Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
Basil Donnelly ‘86 helped lead the men’s rowing program to unprecedented success during his four years as a Camel.
A four-time Dad Vail College Nationals participant at the stroke, Donnelly led the lightweight to a silver medal in 1983, a fifth-place finish in 1984, and a bronze medal in 1985. He finished his career leading the lightweight four to the gold medal in 1986. A New England Rowing Championship gold medalist in 1983 with the lightweight eight, and silver medalist in 1986 with the heavyweight eight, he was a two-time team captain and MVP.
In 1984, Donnelly trained with the British National Lightweight team. In 1985, he placed ninth individually at the Indoor World Rowing Championships (open lightweight category) before placing second at the 1986 US Rowing Nationals in the lightweight eight.
Donnelly graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Russian Studies in 1986, and later earned a JD from the Villanova University School of Law. He currently serves as Chief Legal and Business Intelligence Officer for DLC Management Corporation, and has been with the company since 2010. He also spent six years as an assistant rowing coach at Iona Preparatory School, helping the program claim two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal at the New York State High School Championships from 2016-22.
