Milligan College Buffaloes

A four-sport letterman from Gate City (Va.) High School, Doneva Bays came to Milligan College in 1993 and by the time she left, her exploits had led her to the Milligan College Hall of Fame.

Inducted this year, Bays – an NAIA All-American – led the Lady Buffaloes to a National Championship appearance in 1996 in volleyball.
“That is a time and moment that I will never forget,” said Bays. “My senior year we went not only in volleyball, but basketball also. We were the first Milligan women’s teams to go, and I got to do it in two sports, which was incredible.

“In December we went to San Diego for the National tournament, as one of only 32 teams in the nation to make it that far. It put Milligan on the map and was just a huge accomplishment.”

At Gate City, Bays lettered in volleyball, basketball, softball and track and still holds several records in track. She was recruited to Milligan by Linda King who told her ‘You are coming to Milligan.’

From there Bays natural talents took over and she excelled on the hardwood as a basketball guard/wing who was a 1,000 point scorer for the Lady Buffs basketball squad.

“Linda recruited me from my freshman year at Gate City,” said Bays. “She told me that I could play both sports and that she would be my coach. She has been a great influence to me not only as a player, but as a coach.”

Her senior season was huge for the 5’11” dynamo as she led the Lady Buffs to the “Sweet 16” in basketball and a trip to Angola, Indiana for the National Tournament as well.

Her list of accomplishments for the Lady Buffs and Blue Devils is extensive and includes All-State honors at Gate City, NAIA All-America honors, Mid-South Region Player of the Year and Tennessee Athletic Conference Player of the Year in volleyball.

Bays holds Milligan records for digs per game, digs in a season, kills per game and kills in a season.

In basketball, Bays garnered honors as a two-time All-Conference selection and was noted as a tough, determined scorer and rebounder.
She now returns to Milligan as head coach of the volleyball program where she hopes to shape the program and return what she called, “A heritage and tradition of winning.”

Bays got her first taste of coaching at Coastal Carolina (S.C.) University as an assistant and moved on to Georgetown (Ky.) University where she helped coach a 40-5 squad that was ranked fourth in the nation.
Georgetown reached the elite eight of the National Tournament in her tenure as assistant coach.

“Not only have I played at that high level, but I have coached at that level also,” said Bays. “At Georgetown we reached the elite eight, which is the highest I have ever been as a player or coach. We ranked as high as fourth in the country.

“So I feel as if I have a good taste in my mouth to know what it’s like to be there and for me to push my kids to get there. The kids today, individually, probably have more talent than in my day, but what is unknown is their desire and drive. That’s what I need to get out of them is the desire and hunger to want to win. As a coach you can teach execution, but you can’t coach desire. That is the kind of player that I will be recruiting to Milligan – the ones who want to win and come from winning programs.”

Her first season produced a 9-7 AAC record and an overall mark of 18-19. The Lady Buffs fell in the AAC tournament, but Bays in undaunted and is just beginning her road to building the kind of program she envisions.

“Milligan College is home to me,” said Bays. “I knew when I went the coaching route after college here that it was the life I wanted to choose. I went to ETSU graduate assistantship and I knew that once I built my resume up that Milligan is where I wanted to be.”

Bays is the mother of a three year old daughter Makayla and wants to raise her in the area where she grew up and came to love and hopes that she follows in her footsteps as an appreciative sports enthusiast and participant.