Don Friday was named Saint Francis’ 20th men’s basketball head coach on Apr. 14, 2008, after serving in the same capacity at Division III Lycoming College for the previous five seasons. While he is in his first head job as a Division I coach, Friday brings 19 years of coaching experience to the bench, where he has been extremely successful at every stop he has made.

Friday is now charged with rebuilding a Red Flash squad that has won just 18 games the past three seasons, but if his coaching history repeats itself, SFU is in good hands.

He has left his mark at Lebanon Valley, Bucknell and Lycoming, helping to rebuild programs during each coaching stint. Most recently, Friday led the Warriors of Lycoming to the MAC Freedom playoffs in three of his five seasons as head coach, earning MAC Coach-of-the-Year award twice. He compiled an 83-49 (.629) record at the helm of the Warriors’ program, and has a career record of 313-213 (.595) as an assistant and head coach in 19 seasons on the bench. In just four recruiting classes at Lycoming, Friday had five all-league selections, including 2005-06 conference Player-of-the-Year, Jonathan Pribble and Rookie-of-the-Year, Greg Sye.

Saint Francis is hoping that the St. Clair, Pa. native can lead its program back to the top of the Northeast Conference and into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990-91.

In addition to his commitment on the floor, Friday envisions maintaining the pristine image that the Red Flash program has been accustomed to in the classroom and out in the community.

“The Saint Francis men’s basketball program will remain committed to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education,” Friday said. “Our program will be centered on our student-athletes. We will teach our kids to have success in the classroom and as young adults, and that will translate onto the basketball court. But our players will also represent the university with dignity and class in the community. Our goal is to make this program one that is admired by all.”

Friday got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Lebanon Valley College, under the guidance of three-time Patriot League Coach-of-the-Year, Pat Flannery. Under Flannery’s tutelage, Friday helped lead Lebanon Valley to its first winning season in 18 years during his first season as an assistant in 1989-90. The program received an ECAC invitation each of the next two seasons, and made the NCAA Tournament in both 1993 and 1994, winning the Division III national championship in 1994. He recruited the 1994 Division III National Player-of-the-Year.

After reaching collegiate basketball’s highest pinnacle with the Division III national title, Friday followed his mentor back to his alma mater at Bucknell, where he served as his top assistant for the next nine seasons. His recruitment efforts in Lewisburg helped the Bison reach the NCAA Tournament and upset Kansas and Arkansas in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Under Flannery, Friday was responsible for a team defense that was ranked in the Top-10 nationally in recent years, and consistently ranked No. 1 in the Patriot League.

During his first season as a head coach, Friday made an immediate impact. He helped the Warriors improve from 15-11 to 21-8, while winning the MAC Conference Tournament on their way to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Lycoming ranked first in the conference in defensive field goal percentage, and second in the nation in rebounding, that season. He also led the team to its first win over a Division II opponent in 17 seasons, and its first winning road record in seven years. Friday received the CBOA Scranton-Lehigh Chapter’s Sportsmanship Award in 2004.

In 2006, Lycoming again advanced to the MAC playoffs, and Friday was named the conference’s Coach-of-the-Year for the first time. He picked up his second Coach-of-the-Year award in 2008 after guiding the Warriors to the MAC Commonwealth regular season title.

While succeeding on the court, Friday’s teams have also earned high grades in the classroom. His 2007-08 team achieved a cumulative 2.7 grade-point-average.

It total, Friday has enjoyed 14 winning seasons in 19 years of coaching, including all five seasons as a head coach. At Bucknell, his teams never finished lower than third in Patriot League play. His 2007-08 Lycoming squad went 17-10 overall, and 7-3 in the league to win the regular season title. In five seasons, his teams were a combined 54-15 (.783) while playing on their home court.

Friday holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Business in Administration, both from Lebanon Valley College.

Friday is married to the former Amy Keitsock. The couple has a nine-year-old son, Donald.

Lycoming College President Dr. James E. Douthat:
“(Don Friday) clearly possesses all the personal and professional qualifications to lead a Division I program. We appreciate his fine work in building an excellent men’s basketball program at Lycoming. Don and his family will be missed.”

Lycoming College Director of Athletics Frank Girardi:
“Don has served Lycoming extremely well. He has elevated our program to a championship level. Going from a Division III head coach to a Division I head coach tells you what the basketball community thinks of Don. I wish Don and his family the very best.”

Former Bucknell Head Coach Pat Flannery:
“He can recruit. He’s a guy that will get after it. You’ll see him recruit very hard in different areas.”

University of Tulsa Head Coach Doug Wojcik:
“Don Friday is well prepared to be a Division I head coach. He has been a part of winning programs his entire career. He will bring that winning attitude to Saint Francis.”

Temple Head Coach Fran Dunphy:
“Don Friday is a good man. I wish him great luck and success at Saint Francis University, and I’m sure that it will come. He is a hard-working guy with great morals. I cannot imagine anything but success is going to follow him at the Division I level.”

Wake Forest Head Coach Dino Gaudio:
“Don is as good a teacher, recruiter and coach as there is in the country. He will bring Saint Francis back to prominence in the Northeast Conference very quickly. His work ethic and enthusiasm are second to none. Saint Francis has made a great hire.”

Personal
Hometown: St. Clair, Pa.
Parents: Don and Martha
Wife: Married to the former Amy Keitsock
Children: Donald Lewis, 9

Education
B.S. (Management), Lebanon Valley, 1990
M.S. (Business Administration), Lebanon Valley, 1993

Assistant Coaching Career

Head Coaching Career