Former Los Angeles Harbor Player, Coach Inducted into CCCMBCA Hall of Fame

Donny Daniels doesn’t question much about his time in the game of basketball. 

But there is one thing. Why he didn’t enroll at Los Angeles Harbor College coming out of Verbum Dei High School. Instead, Daniels left Los Angeles in the review mirror for a year at Scottsdale Community College. But the bright lights of Los Angeles called him home. Not only did he play at Los Angeles Harbor, but he coached the Seahawks, going 32- 27 over the course of two seasons, including 20-11 in 1986.

It proved to be the first step in what has turned out to be incredible journey in the game.

During his more than 30 years in coaching, Daniels made stops at Utah, UCLA, Gonzaga and California State, Fullerton. And, 2020-21 proved to be his last, retiring after a second stint with Utah as the Director of Player Development. 

During his career, Rivals.com designated Daniels one of college basketball's Top 25 recruiters after he brought in the No. 4 ranked recruiting class at UCLA. In 2005, Daniels' recruiting class sported five players ranked among the Top 100 in North America. In 2008, his UCLA class was ranked No. 1 and in 2009, it was ranked No. 4. His recruiting expertise helped UCLA win three consecutive Pac-10 Conference titles and make three consecutive trips to the Final Four. 

Under Daniels tutelage, the Bruins produced six first-round NBA draft picks in Jordan Farmar (2006), Arron Afflalo (2007), Kevin Love (2008), Russell Westbrook (2008), Jrue Holiday (2009) and Darren Collison (2009) in Daniels' last six seasons as an assistant under Ben Howland. UCLA also had another four players drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft in Daniels' tenure. 

Before his run on the UCLA staff, Daniels served as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton for three seasons from 2001-03 and was on head coach Rick Majerus' staff at the University of Utah for 11 seasons from 1990-2000. During Daniels' 11 seasons at Utah, the Utes reached the NCAA Tournament eight times and were national runner-up in 1998. Daniels was also the chief recruiter, bringing the likes of Andre Miller and Keith Van Horn to Salt Lake City. 

After winning only 10 games in his first two seasons at Fullerton (he inherited a Titan program that was on NCAA probation), his 2003 Cal State Fullerton squad doubled their win total (10) and posted an 8-10 Big West record despite a rash of injuries that affected all five returning lettermen. Suiting up as few as seven or eight players for several mid-season games, Fullerton had its best conference record in 10 years and reached double figures in victories for the first time in four years. The Titans beat every Big West opponent in 2003, except tournament champion Utah State. An alum of Cal State Fullerton, Daniels played on the Titans’ first two NCAA Division I teams in 1974-75 and 1975-76 under head coach Bobby Dye, a former California community college player himself (Fullerton College). His senior year, Daniels was selected the top defender on a team that won the school's only conference basketball championship when it earned a share of the 1976 Pacific Coast Athletic Association title. 

Donny Daniels returned to the University of Utah as the Director of Player Development after serving nine seasons as an assistant coach on the Gonzaga. In his eight years in Spokane, Daniels helped the Zags to seven West Coast Conference regular season titles and WCC Tournament championships. Gonzaga made the NCAA Tournament in each of Daniels' eight seasons on staff, including an appearance in the national championship game in the program's first-ever Final Four in 2017, and an Elite Eight in 2015.  

“I want to thank the California Community College Basketball Association for this special honor.,” he said. “Reflecting on my coaching career, my journey started as a junior college player and coach. I realize those are some of the memories that I cherish the most. The recognition is greatly appreciated!”