Casi Donelan is in her seventh season as the head women’s basketball coach at Bard, having come to Bard in July 2017.
In her time at the helm, Donelan has coached 32 Liberty League All-Academic Honorees. One of the most prominent players that she has coached was Christina Kiser, a three-time All-Liberty League Honoree, Liberty League Rookie of the Year, two-time CSC Academic All-American, and ECAC Rookie of the Year. Kiser was the first Raptor to win a post-season award since Tytravia Riley in 2013. Bard has also been in the Top 25 of the WBCA Academic Team during the 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
A native of Fairfax, Va., Donelan came to Bard after four years as the top assistant at Oberlin College. During her tenure there, the women's basketball program experienced a turnaround, making the conference tournament all four seasons and culminating with the team's first conference playoff victory in 18 years after the 2016-17 regular season.
The Yeowomen won three national statistical titles during her time there - free throw percentage, blocked shots in a season, blocked shots per game) and set five school records including wins in a season and conference wins in a season. Oberlin defeated regionally and nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace during her time there. She recruited and coached seven all-conference selections at Oberlin, including Conference Player of the Year and Regional All-American Christina Marquette.
Donelan was an assistant at Skidmore College before going to Oberlin, and she was a graduate assistant at Bethany College for two seasons prior to going to Skidmore.
She received her Bachelor's Degree in Sports Administration from Lock Haven University in 2010; she was a three-year captain and starter at Lock Haven, leading the team in assists and rebounds from 2008-2010. Donelan earned her Master's Degree in Teaching from Bethany College.
Donelan resides in Hudson with her daughter Violet.
