By Bill Sheehan 

Jim Donovan has many reasons to take pride in his 14 years as Cal State Fullerton's director of athletics.

During his tenure, the Titans captured 34 Big West Conference championships and one Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title. They won their first-ever Commissioner's Cup, given annually to the school with the most success in conference sports. The baseball and softball teams reached multiple College World Series. Major infrastructure projects were initiated and completed, including a baseball and ticketing complex, an upgraded softball facility, a 53-meter swimming pool, a baseball video scoreboard and lighting for the intramural field.

But for Donovan, 66, who is retiring in September, the most important achievement was empowering Fullerton's student-athletes.

Under Donovan's leadership, the athletic department expanded the school's Athletics Academic Services, which provides tutoring, study skills and mentoring. The department launched the Fullerton Life Skills program, which prepares student-athletes for their post-graduate careers, and the Fullerton Athletic Career Expo, an annual networking event that connects them with prospective employers.


Titans soccer players Armin Tehrani and Aidan Brothers chat with a company representative at the Fullerton Athletics Career Expo. Jim Donovan aims to "develop our student-athletes as leaders of the future."

"Fullerton athletic administrators, staff and coaches have worked in a united effort to help develop our student-athletes as leaders of the future," said Donovan, who played offensive line at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and earned a geography degree and an executive master's degree in business administration from UH.

"Our graduation rate climbed from 68% to 80%. Our Academic Progress Rate, a metric used by the NCAA to measure eligibility, retention and graduation rates, was .912. Now it is .985. And our combined athletes' GPA rose from 2.85 to 3.22," said Donovan.

Fram Virjee, J.D. who served as Cal State Fullerton president from 2018 to 2023, called Donovan "the consummate professional."

"Because of his MBA background, he is keenly aware and constantly correcting and refining the financial gymnastics that a Division 1 athletic director has to deal with at a non-Power 4 school. That said, because Jim is also a former college athlete himself, he understands the circumstances and opportunities for a Division 1 athlete," said Virjee.

"Jim's focus is not on winning, although he is highly competitive and wants to win. His focus is on what is best for the student in the long term. But his greatest strength is his empathetic leadership style. He listens, cares and acts, in that order."


Fullerton women's softball players celebrate the team's 2026 Big West Championship. It was the school's 34th Big West title secured during Jim Donovan's years as director of athletics.

Donovan served as executive director of the Hawaii Bowl and athletic director at the University of Hawaii before arriving at Fullerton on the final day of 2012. He hit the ground running, said Steve DiTolla, the Titans senior associate athletics director at the time.

"Jim came in with his 'Top 10 Musts,' a list of core values that stressed the importance of customer service, respect, accountability and excellence," said DiTolla. "He basically said these things don't cost money and should serve as a way of doing things."

Donovan's "Top 10 Musts" included maxims such as "Customer service is paramount," "Our customers are student-athletes, students, Cal State Fullerton staff, ticket purchasers, corporate sponsors and donors," "We will outwork our competition" and "Anyone can point out a problem. We will suggest and implement solutions."

"Before, there were a lot of different silos in the departments on campus. Without a doubt, part of Jim's vision was to bring everyone together and operate on the same page," said DiTolla, who retired in 2020.

Donovan agreed. "There were several divisions on campus that didn't like athletics at all. I made it clear that we would follow rules, not cut corners and work well with all the other departments."

This approach bore fruit two years later when students voted to approve the Student Success Initiative, which funded campuswide improvements through a new fee. SSI helped finance athletic department's capital improvements and scholarship and academic support for student-athletes.

Key campus leaders joined Donovan's effort to get SSI across the finish line. They included President Dr. Mildred Garcia, who hired Donovan, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Associated Students, Inc. President Rohullah Latif and ASI Vice President Johnny Leggett.

Garcia is now the Cal State University chancellor, and Johnson Eanes is president of Cal State L.A.

"SSI was a major turning point. Suddenly, we were able to fully fund for student-athletes and coaches," said DiTolla. "It didn't just change athletics; it changed the campus. Having a successful athletic program became a symbol of unity and pride."

Donovan recalled a moment that illustrated how SSI changed things. "John Elders had been our track and field head coach for over 30 years. Most of that time, he didn't have two nickels to rub together for a budget," said Donovan. "After SSI passed and he had the resources to truly compete, the men's track team won its first Big West Championship."

"I gave him a huge hug and honestly started crying because I know how much his heart and soul was poured into the program. Once he had the resources, he was able to win a championship. And the track program has done phenomenally for us ever since then."

Fullerton ranks only eighth out of 11 Big West school in overall budget but consistently ranks in the top three in fund-raising. That has allowed the Titans stay outperform better financed programs.


A baseball and ticketing complex is one of several infrastructure projects that Jim Donovan spearheaded while leading the Athletic Department.

Donovan praised Greg Paules, who was recently hired as UC Riverside's director of athletics in March, with raising more than $22 million while serving as Fullerton's associate athletics director for development. "As a mid-major, especially with the emergenceof Name, Image and Likeness, you have to raise funds. It's a necessity," said Donovan.

For more on Donovan's thoughts on athletic financing, see Kirk San Roman's July Q&A with Donovan, "The Ever Changing World of College Athletics." 

SSI and fund-raising have allowed Fullerton to recruit more international students for its sports teams, Donovan said. "I love to recruit them for a couple reasons. Having a good mix of people with different backgrounds and ethnicities provides a better experience for our athletes. Also, it has created an enhanced brand and effective talent pipeline, with coaches overseas steering top athletes to Fullerton."

For example, the Titans women's golf program has benefited from having international performers. Davina Xanh of Britain and Kathi Zeilinger of Austria helped the Titans advance to the NCAA tournament the last two years. In 2026, they qualified for an at-large berth – a rare achievement for a mid-major school.

Kathryn Hosch, Fullerton's women's golf head coach and a former Titans player, was hired by Donovan. "Jim took a chance on me. I was 25 years old, one of the youngest head coaches in Division 1. I'm forever grateful to him.


At a farewell event, Jim Donovan is joined by his wife, Tracy Orillo-Donovan, Cal State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred Garcia, Cal State Fullerton President Dr. Ronald Rochon and Cal State Los Angeles President Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes. Donovan was named a school vice president earlier this year.

"For the first few years, I was on edge being a first-time head coach. One thing I appreciated about Jim – you never had to guess what he was thinking. He would tell you. He had so much experience and knowledge, and I was taking it all in like drinking from a fire hydrant."

Sam Huerta, a Titans ticketing and operations specialist, also learned a lot working with Donovan during her years as the administrative support coordinator. "I'm grateful I had the opportunity to work with Jim. His leadership style is unique. He really pays attention to detail and make well-thought-out decisions. I've learned from him and applied it to my work."

"Jim absolutely is dedicated to the athletes' experience and ensures that the school is building leaders for the future," said Huerta, a former middle-distance track star who holds Fullerton records in the women's 800-meter and 1500-meter races, both indoors and outdoors. "We have many alums working in the athletics department. I'm proud to be one of those employees."

Donovon himself rose through the ranks at the University of Hawaii after graduating with a geography degree. His first job was managing the school's baseball facility.

"I spent 30 years working in Hawaii. 'Ohana' means family in Hawaiian, and I tried to treat the entire Cal State Fullerton athletic program as family.

"Even though a lot of people probably describe me as a general or admiral in my management style, the people who took the time to really get to know me understand that I have a big heart." His wife, Tracy Orillo-Donovan, said he has his own way of doing things.


Jim Donovan attends the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Phoenix with his wife Tracy Orillo-Donovan, daughter Jackie and son Josh.

"Jim believes in a holistic approach. He has an out-of-the-box mentality but still works within the required parameters. He was able to truly lead because he didn't have to check in with his presidents on most issues. They trusted he would do the right thing, and he did," said Orillo-Donovan, a University of Hawaii graduate and former UH broadcast manager who met Donovan on the Manoa campus.

She remained living on Oahu after Donovan took the Fullerton job, as did their two children, Jackie and Josh. "Tracy would come to stay on the mainland for three or four weeks four times a year, and I would get to Hawaii when possible," said Donovan.

Both of Donovan's children were student-athletes at the University of Hawaii. Josh works at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. He and his wife, Kia, have a son, Tyson. Jackie is an analyst for Bank of Hawaii. She also is the head of the UH Letterwinners Club, an association of former athletes that was founded by her father in 1997.

Dr. Ronald Rochon, Fullerton's president, understands the value of intercollegiate athletics, said Donovan. "I'm passing the baton to a CEO who understands the value of athletics, from recruiting future leaders to the brand value and pride it creates. In fact, all the Fullerton presidents I worked with understood why athletics are so important. I received tremendous support from all of them."

Donovan, who owns a home in Orange County, was born in Texas and raised in Anaheim. He attended Servite High School and Santa Ana College before transferring to Hawaii.

He and his wife plan to split time between Hawaii and Southern California at least through the 2028 Olympics.

With the University of Hawaii leaving the Big West for the Mountain West Conference, Donovan will no longer be forced to choose between his two favorite universities in head-to-head matchups.

"I love being a Titan. I will bleed orange and blue for the rest of my life."