| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1942 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1962–1964 | Middle Tennessee |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1967–1973 | Father Ryan HS (TN) (assistant) |
| 1974–1975 | Father Ryan HS (TN) |
| 1976 | Vanderbilt (offensive backfield) |
| 1977–1978 | Austin Peay |
| 1979–1998 | Middle Tennessee |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2000–2005 | Middle Tennessee |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 154–94–1 (college) 21–2 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 7–7 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 5 OVC (1977, 1985, 1989–1990, 1992) | |
| Awards | |
| 4× OVC Coach of the Year (1977, 1983, 1985, 1989) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2013 (profile) | |
James F. "Boots" Donnelly (born October 15, 1942) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay State University from 1977 to 1978 and at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) from 1979 to 1998, compiling a career college football coaching record of 154–94–1. Donnelly was inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in 1993![1] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013.[2]
Herald was invoked but never defined (see the help page).