McNeese football video coordinator Raymond Donovan adds USFL title to resume

LAKE CHARLES – Back in the late 1990’s, Raymond Donovan was knocking heads on the gridiron in the blue and gold for the McNeese Cowboys from 1997-99 and was a member of the ‘97 National Championship Runner-Up squad.

Today, he’s cutting up video clips of the Cowboys knocking heads while he enters his ninth season on staff as the football program’s Video Coordinator.

No stranger to winning championships, Donovan won two Southland Conference titles, the first as a player in 1997 and again in 2015, his first season on the staff when he arrived as a volunteer. In fact, Donovan volunteered his first five seasons to the program until 2020 when then-head coach Frank Wilson hired him as the team’s full-time video coordinator.

He added to his trophy case this spring when doing some professional development work in the USFL as the video coordinator for the Birmingham Stallions, who defeated the Pittsburgh Maulers 28-12 on July 1 to capture the league title.

“It was quite an experience and excited I had the opportunity to learn and gain some knowledge from the professional level that I can bring back here to McNeese,” said Donovan. “Both the players and coaches perform at high levels and come to the field and facilities ready to work.”

Although it’s the professional ranks, Donovan says it’s not much different than what he’s doing at McNeese.

“I was nervous at first that I might be outclassed or asked to do things I have not seen at the college level, but that just wasn’t the case. The cameras work the same. The system runs the same. Game days were different because they (national broadcast) used our film in TV productions on NBC and FOX. That required more learning skills that I had not used before.”

Although he spent much of the spring with the Stallions, his work as the Cowboys’ Director of Video didn’t stop as he worked remotely to continue to cut film for the McNeese coaching staff.

“I’m very thankful to Coach (Gary) Goff for allowing me to work on my professional development,” said Donovan. “But I still performed my duties for McNeese because I was needed here as well.”

“Ray has been one of the best video coordinators in the Southland Conference for a long time,” said Goff. “He got an awesome opportunity for some professional development with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL and not only did an amazing job, but he also helped them win a championship.

“He is very important to our team and I’m excited to see what things he learned that will help further our program.”

Donovan said the opportunity came about after receiving a call from Robert Blackwell, who is the head of video for the USFL and a 30-year video veteran with the Dallas Cowboys.

“It was a chance to learn from someone who has worked at the highest level and had a lot of success,” he said. “I learned the angles and framing that professional teams and coaches like to use, which really all levels should use. And also how important communication is among the videographers.”

Donovan said the use of iPads for film will be beneficial to the coaching staff, something he said they have asked for and will implement this fall.

Gaining the experience, knowledge and connections is something Donovan will forever be grateful for.

“I learned a lot and met some great people. I worked for Skip Holtz and numerous successful coaches on staff. I had the opportunity to meet Daryl Johnston, who is the president of the USFL. And I was introduced to Michael Irvin when we visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I have said this many, many times, but I have the greatest job on the planet. I love to go to work every day and I have the time of my life doing it.

“The most memorable moment would have to be winning the USFL championship. Winning is not easy at any level. Being a part of a championship was just a cherry on top of an already amazing experience. I have watched trophy presentations on TV so many times, so to be there as it happened and to be a part of it, it’s something I will never forget.”

It only makes sense that Donovan’s championship with the Stallions will be combined with another title this fall. After all, a Stallion isn’t a true champ without a Cowboy leading the way.