Auburn coaches through the years
Written for the Auburn yearbook The Glomerata celebrating past and current Auburn Tiger coaches
Auburn Gymnastics Coach Robert Dillard
Photo curtsey of auburntigers.com
Men’s basketball: Joel Eaves (1914-1991)
Eaves spent 14 years as the head coach of the Men’s Basketball team. He led the program to their first SEC regular season title in 1960, where he also received the honor of SEC Coach of the Year. Not only did he coach the basketball team, but he also helped with the football team. He coached defensive ends in 1957 when the Tigers were National Champions.
Gymnastics: Robert Dillard (1985-1999)
Dillard started his career in 1985 and spent over 14 years as the head coach, helping to build the program. "This program is not what it is today without those early years under Coach Dillard," head coach Jeff Graba said. "That foundation of success and determination still stands today." Under Dillard, the Tigers made 10 NCAA regional appearances and reached the NCAA Championship for the first time in 1991 and again in 1993. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1999.
Football: Mike Donahue (1908-1919)
Mike “Iron” Donahue is known as one of the most influential past coaches in Auburn history. Not only did he coach football, but he was also the first athletics director. He added men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and track to Auburn’s athletic roster. He helped coach all four teams alongside his football responsibilities. In his time coaching football, he had three undefeated seasons, and seven of his 18 teams went on to lose only one game. In his career at Auburn, he had three conference championships and one national championship (1913). It was written by Ed Danforth of the Atlanta Journal that, “You were nobody until you had beaten Auburn. That was the place card for the head table."
Men’s Tennis: Eric Shore (1990-2016)
Shore coached Auburn to a school-record of 359 wins. He made 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including five Top 15 finishes. His teams made three Sweet 16 appearances and two Elite Eight appearances. Shore even coached Tigers that went on to win the Wimbledon. He was skilled at selling Auburn to international students and helping them know that they could play at Auburn and make this place a home. Shore is the winningest coach in program history.
Women’s Basketball: Nell Fortner (2004-2012)
Fortner was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to their first SEC regular season title in 20 years. During the 2008-2009 season, her record was 30-4 with a 12-2 league mark. Under her leadership, Auburn advanced to postseason play four times, making it to the NCAA Tournament in both 2008 and 2009. Prior to her career at Auburn, Fortner coached the U.S. Women's National team that would go on to win gold in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She departed from the program in 2012.
Soccer: Karen Hoppa (1999-Current)
Hoppa has coached soccer for 23 seasons on the Plains. In these 23 seasons, she has certainly shown where she has become capable of taking this program. She has had 73 All-SEC selections, including four SEC Player of the Year choices. Since being at Auburn, she has led the team to advance to the SEC tournament 21 consecutive times, along with 17 NCAA tournament appearances. Hoppa has led her team to seven SEC West Division Championships, a regular season title and one conference tournament crown. Her record at Auburn currently stands at 266-175-45 (.594).