Westchester to Honor Stepinac A.D. and Head Football Coach Mike O’Donnell
Mike O’Donnell, the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Stepinac High School, is never hesitant to pay tribute to other people, including his students, players and family.
O’Donnell, donned in his Naval Academy cap inscribed with a capital gold ‘N’, led football practice on the state-of-the-art Spinturf Field that he helped raise funds for at Stepinac.
The Navy cap is a tribute to his brother, Navy Captain Brian O’Donnell and his former quarterback Brendon Coleman, who led the Crusaders to an undefeated regular season and the CHSFL AAA Championship in 2014.
O’Donnell’s brother was a great runner for the Naval Academy and graduated in 1988. He presently works at the Pentagon and was the Captain of two Missile Cruisers during his tenure in the Navy. Coleman is presently attending and playing football for the Naval Academy.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Westchester County Center, it will be Michael O’Donnell’s turn to be recognized, as he will be inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame.
“It is unbelievable, a huge surprise. To tell you the truth I never thought about it,” said O’Donnell. “I am very lucky. I come to a job where I get to help young people and watch them grow and have great success stories. Wins and losses are important but it is more important to watch these student/athletes go on to do great things,” gratefully acknowledged O’Donnell.
O’Donnell has received many accolades over the years and the contributions he has extended to the Stepinac and Westchester community. Here are a few:
O’Donnell serves on the CHSFL Board of Governors. He received the Cardinal O’Connor Service Award in 1999 and was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame 2007 and Stepinac Hall of Fame 2016. O’Donnell led the Crusaders to the CHSFL AAA Championship in 2014 and 2015 and won the CHSAA NYS Championship in 2015. He was voted Coach of the Year in the CHSFL each year.
O’Donnell also led his Crusaders to CHSFL AA Championship four times and was Daily News Suburban Coach of the Year five times and Lohud.com Westchester County Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2014.
O’Donnell received the 2014 Salvation Army Community Service Award and was
Grand Marshal of the White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade and serves on the St. Patrick’s Day Committee. This year there are 40 Crusaders alumni, who are former players of O’Donnell’s playing football in colleges all over the country.
Other inductees into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the County Center include: International Soccer Referee Gino D’Ippolito, Dan Ricci, the longtime Ossining High School Head Girls Basketball Coach and former Ardsley High School Baseball Coach Neil Fitzpatrick.
For reservations, contact Kevin Cook at 914-231-4564 or kdc2@westchestergov.com.
