Branden McDonald enters his fifth year as an assistant coach for the Tigers in 2021-22. He arrived at Towson after working during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons at a successful Manhattan College program under head coach Steve Masiello.
Towson enters the 2021-22 season having won at least 18 games in six of the last nine years.
The Tigers enjoyed a strong 2019-20 campaign that resulted in 19 victories and a third-place finish in the CAA for the third time in five years. In addition, Towson had five players named to the 2020 All-CAA team, the most of any school in the conference. The Tigers won a program record seven CAA road games and had a seven-game winning streak during the month of January.
In his first season as a member of the Tigers staff, McDonald helped Towson enjoy a torrid start to its 2017-18 season.
Towson won the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase and the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic. In addition, Towson had a 10-game winning streak, which was tied for the third best in program history. The Tigers started the season 10-1, which was the best in Towson’s Division I era, and received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the second time in program history. The Tigers also spent six weeks in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll peaking at No. 4 on Dec. 19, 2017.
Prior to working at Towson and Manhattan, McDonald spent two seasons as a graduate assistant for the University of Pittsburgh under head coach Jamie Dixon. Skerry worked on Dixon’s staff in 2010-11. At Pittsburgh, McDonald helped the Panthers qualify for a pair of postseason appearances, including the 2014 NCAA Tournament. He assisted in player development, film breakdown and scouting reports.
Prior to coming to Pittsburgh, McDonald worked with The Hoop Group while balancing stints at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland and the prestigious Team Takeover program run by Keith Stevens that is a part of the Amateur Athletic Union.
A native of Glen Arden, McDonald played his collegiate basketball at renowned Division II Virginia Union University. Following his graduation in 2011, McDonald worked as a paraprofessional in New Carrollton, MD.
