Hall of Fame
Coach
Co-National Champions, 1950
11 Consecutive Northern California Intercollegiate Titles, 1948-1958
Coach of the Year, 1950 and 1954
USF Career Years Coached: 1941-1960
USF Career Years Played: 1932-1935
Birthdate: March 17, 1911
Hometwon: San Francisco
High School: Saint Ignatius College Preparatory
Augustine “Gus” or “Scotty” Donoghue was born on March 11, 1911, and first learned the game of soccer at Saint Aloysius Elementary School in Garnet Hill, Scotland. He came to San Francisco in 1925 and attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory prior to enrolling at USF. He played Soccer for the Dons, from 1932 to 1936. As a player, Donoghue was a major factor in USF’s first golden era in soccer, when the Dons won five consecutive Northern California Intercollegiate Conference Championships. He captained the Dons and was named All-American three years in a row. His fellow Hall of Fame colleagues were: Dick Baptista, Angelo Carmassi, Robert Lee, Steve Negoesco, Olifumni Osibogun, and Benigno Toda. He was also a member of the 1936 United States Olympic Team. While at USF, he played with the amateur soccer club Teutonia, which sponsored matches at Ewing Field.
In July, 1933, at the age of 22, he was credited with saving a five-year old girl from drowning in the Merced River, in Yosemite Valley. She was swept away by the current, screamed for help, and Donoghue jumped in and brought her to safety.
Donoghue also served as Student Body President, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in 1936. He obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of California in 1937 and his PhD. from Stanford University in 1953. He began coaching soccer in 1941-1942, and then left for military duty as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. He returned to coaching at USF in 1946 and also served as an Assistant Professor of History.
In his 15 years as Head Coach, Donoghue posted a record of 121-12-14, leading USF to eleven NCISC Championships. He received the Coach of the Year Award in 1950 – the year in which USF played in the first college Soccer Bowl game in the history of the United States – and in 1954. By percentage, he has the most wins as a coach in the NSCAA. In 2001, he was inducted into the NSCAA Hall of Fame. In 1952, Gus assumed the duties of Admissions Director. He retired from this position in 1973.
In 1975, USF created the Gus Donoghue Award. It represents the highest recognition that USF can bestow upon a soccer player who wears the Green and Gold.
