Donell Morgan shares his powerful journey from student-athlete to mentor and community leader. Donell played basketball for Idaho State from 1993 to 1995, earning First Team All-Big Sky honors and helping lead the Bengals to a conference championship. He reflects on being recruited by Coach Herb, the family-like support he found in Pocatello, and how his experience at ISU shaped both his career and character.
Donell opens up about returning to campus for commencement and how seeing the faces of graduating students reminded him of his own journey. From becoming the first African American coach in Douglas County to mentoring inner-city youth and now leading Elevate Oregon, Donell talks about how he’s applied lessons from ISU to uplift others. With humility and deep Bengal pride, he discusses the importance of speaking your truth, finding your purpose, and embracing the stretch that growth requires.
This is episode 7 of a podcast series featuring ISU alumni as they share their unique journeys, the impact of their education, and how ISU shaped their careers and lives around the world. Each episode dives into personal stories of triumph, challenges, and the lessons learned along the way.
