Hundreds of supporters — including family members, fans, and former players — huddled outside the Rose Bowl Stadium Friday, Oct. 27, to celebrate a gent who outshone so many inside the iconic stadium. It was a day to honor legendary UCLA football coach Terry Donahue, one of the game’s greats on the gridiron and the sideline.
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil a 7-foot tall bronze statue of Donahue, the winningest coach in UCLA and Pac-12 Conference history.
Former UCLA football players pose in front of the new bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The new bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Michele Donahue, daughter of Terry Donahue, speaks at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of her father, UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
John Sciarra, former UCLA quarterback, speaks at the ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Andrea Donahue, wife of Terry Donahue, center, with her children and grandchildren in front of the new bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Charles Arbuckle, former UCLA tight end, speaks at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gorda greets Andrea Donahue, wife of Terry Donahue, at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Terry Tumey, a former UCLA football player, speaks at the ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A bronze statue dedicated to Terry Donahue, the winningest coach in UCLA football and Pac-12 Conference history is unveiled in a ceremony at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cade McKNown, former UCLA quarterback speaks at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A bronze statue dedicated to Terry Donahue, the winningest coach in UCLA football and Pac-12 Conference history is unveiled in a ceremony at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Guests look over the history of UCLA coach Terry Donahue after a bronze statue in honor of the UCLA coach was unveiled at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo speaks at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Guests look over the history of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue in honor of UCLA coach Terry Donahue at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Friday, October 27th.
The statue of Coach Donahue is surrounded by 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes. As a gift by over 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the non-profit that supports the preservation, protection and enhancement of the Stadium’s future, each rose has been supported by an individual or family and honors one of the conference- and school-record 151 wins during Donahue’s career on the UCLA sidelines. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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“As I look around today there are so many familiar faces that have been part of our family’s lives for as long as I can remember,” Michelle Donahue, the coach’s daughter who remembers growing up in the stadium, said during the unveiling ceremony. “Being here in the Rose Bowl today, it feels like home.”
Over 20 years, Coach Donahue notched more wins than any football coach in the school’s history, becoming the face of UCLA football after snagging seven consecutive bowl championships — including Rose Bowl Game victories in 1983, ’84, and ’86.
Overall, he won 151 of the 233 games he coached, 98 of those victories in the Pac-10, as the conference was known before adding two teams in 2011. Donahue was also the first person to appear in the Rose Bowl Game as a player, an assistant coach and a coach.
“He wasn’t just a great football coach, he was a man of great character who made a positive and personal impact on so many student athletes,” said John Sciarra, College Football Hall of Fame quarterback for UCLA under Donahue in the ’70s. “We love you, Terry.”
Donahue passed away in 2021.
Donahue’s statue on the Rose Bowl grounds joins other greats who made their name at the stadium such as boundary-busting baseball legend Jackie Robinson (dedicated in 2017), Brandi Chastain of the 1999 Team USA FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions (dedicated 2019) and beloved sportscaster Keith Jackson (dedicated 2019).
However, Donahue’s is the first statue located inside the Stadium’s gates, where fans can view the monument and players will pass by the coach’s visage before each home game. The other three statues are located outside the venue’s fence line, near the Stadium’s main entrance at Gate A.
“My hope is that this statue will inspire those who see it to learn about Coach Donahue and the impacts he’s had on so many people and to try to follow his example,” said Cade McNown, College Football Hall of Fame quarterback for UCLA during Donahue’s final year coaching.
Donahue’s statue features 151 bronze roses of varying shapes and sizes that surround his imposing figure outside the stadium, which points to the Jackie Robinson statue outside the gates.
Each rose, sponsored by more than 100 donors to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, represents every win during his tenure on the UCLA sidelines.
