Coach Don Friday named ECAC Coach of the Year after leading Penn State-Harrisburg to first-ever conference title and first ever national tournament appearance

Coach Don Friday, PSU-Harrisburg
Photo: Athletic office

... and Happy Birthday, Coach!

When he took over the Penn State-Harrisburg men’s basketball program six years ago, he knew that the program had never experienced any significant success.

This year, the fruits of his labor over the last six seasons came to fruition as the Lions captured their first conference championship as it won the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) on Feb. with a 76-69 win over Lancaster Bible College on Feb. 29.

That earned them a spot in the NCAA Division III national championship race, earning their first victory ever with a first-round win over John Hopkins, which had been ranked sixth in the country entering the tournament.

PSU-Harrisburg won 21 games this season, another school record.

As a result, Coach Friday was named 2020 ECAC Div. III Coach of the Year,

Friday was named NEAC Coach of the Year and led Penn State Harrisburg to its-first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. They made the most of that appearance as he led the Lions to a double-overtime victory over No. 6 Johns Hopkins in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game.

In addition to tournament heroics, the Blue & White won their first-ever conference championship with a program record with 21 victories on the season. Under his guidance, sophomore Donyae Baylor-Carroll was named the NEAC Player of the Year, while freshman Nate Curry earned NEAC Rookie of the Year recognition.

“ECAC Announces 2020 DIII Men's Basketball All-ECAC Team and 
Major Award Winners,” March 18, 2020

Has major players returning

With the conference player of the year just a sophomore and the rookie of the year just a freshman, the future looks bright to the team. However, this should not be a surprise. 


Coach Friday on left, POY Donyae Baylor-Carroll on right

Friday teamed with his college coach and mentor, Pat Flannery, to win a national title at Lebanon Valley in 1994. He later coached with Flannery at Div. I Bucknell and was the head coach at St. Francis University for four years, bringing the Red Flash back to respectability.

So, this is a talented leader of young men, and he should be commended for his efforts.

But, more than that, Don Friday is a great human being, a good man, a man who really cares for his players, along with being a good father and husband.

In short, this was a great honor for a great guy.

And imagine where the St. Francis Red Flash would be if they had stuck with him. Back in the national playoffs, no doubt.

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