O’Donnell heading back to Finlandia

Finlandia University announced late Wednesday night that they have hired Negaunee boys high school basketball coach Mike O’Donnell to become the new coach the Lions men’s basketball team. It will be a homecoming of sorts for O’Donnell. He went to school at Finlandia, where he played for the Lions basketball team.

O’Donnell was on the Lions team that won the  Small College National Tournament back in 2001. O’Donnell was named the MVP of the tournament as a sophomore. During his coaching tenure at Negaunee, O’Donnell won 180 games, eight district titles, six conference championships, and six regional titles.

O’Donnell will have to rebuild the Lions basketball team from the ground up. Finlandia won just ten games the last two seasons combined. He replaces Terry Smith, who announced earlier this month that he was leaving the program to pursue new career opportunities.