Donald was raised on the northside of Flint. He attended Garfield, Sacred Heart Junior High, Emerson Junior High and graduated from Northern High School. Don was a rare athlete who excelled in multiple sports. He was captain of his baseball and football teams. In baseball played varsity for three years and made All-Valley, All-City Teams, his batting average was .423 he was on Coach Bill Adams top player list.
Don also excelled in football at Albion College, helping the team to an undefeated and MIAA championship in 1976-1977. After graduation, Don returned to his alma mater, Flint Northern, in various coaching capacities. Under his guidance as track coach, he won city, regional and placing in the state finals.
In 1984-1985, Don took his coaching skills to Saginaw High coaching football (defensive coordinator) and girls track head coach in 1993-1994. Donald became head football coach in Saginaw in 1991, becoming the winningest coach at Saginaw with a record of 91-37. As head coach Don won six conference championships and one state championship, four regional championships and four semifinal appearances. He was coach of the year seven times, Valley Coach of the year six times and two State of Michigan Detroit Lions Coach of the Year (1997-1999).
