Mike O[apos]Donnell, one of the top players in school history, took over as UCF[apos]s director of basketball operations in May 2011. O[apos]Donnell starred for the Knights from 2005-08.
In his current role, he organizes team travel, manages the program[apos]s budget, helps monitor the Knights[apos] academic progress, coordinates the team[apos]s community service initiatives and directs Donnie Jones[apos] summer basketball camps.
After concluding his collegiate career, O[apos]Donnell spent three years at UCF with the Golden Knights Club, helping coordinate UCF Athletics[apos] fundraising efforts.
During his time as a Knight, O[apos]Donnell started 89-consecutive contests at point guard. He totaled 195 career triples, good for third in program history. On seven occasions during his career, he drained at least six 3-pointers in a game, including seven against Rollins in 2006-07. That season, he shot 43.0 percent from deep as the Knights won 22 contests and finished second in Conference USA.
As a senior in 2007-08, he averaged a career-high 11.9 points. For his career, he averaged 10.2 points per contest.
O[apos]Donnell ranks sixth in school history with 394 career assists, and is ninth all-time with 140 steals. He always seemed to be on the court, averaging 31.9 minutes for his career. As a senior, he averaged 34.3 minutes, one of the top marks in C-USA. He logged over 40 minutes several times during the campaign and spent 44 minutes in the floor in the Knights[apos] triple-overtime win against Tulsa. In the victory over the Golden Hurricane, he recorded 18 points.
O[apos]Donnell began his playing career at NC State. As a freshman in 2003-04, he saw time in 30 games, making seven starts. He averaged 2.4 points and totaled 33 assists for the Wolfpack, and appeared in a pair of NCAA Tournament contests.
A native of Largo, Fla., O[apos]Donnell graduated in 2008 with a bachelor[apos]s degree in interpersonal organizational communications. He earned his master[apos]s degree in 2010 from UCF in sports and fitness. After his playing days were over, O[apos]Donnell worked as a color analyst on UCF basketball radio broadcasts on the UCF-IMG Sports Network and during telecasts on Bright House Sports Network.
(updated 5/16/11)