Mike Donnell announced he is stepping down as both an educator and coach at Pembroke Academy following his latest cancer diagnosis.
Donnell, who led PA boys basketball to a state championship last season, revealed the news in a social media post Oct. 30 that received over 200 comments from community members voicing their support.
With a state runner-up finish in 2023 and the aforementioned 2025 title, Donnell established himself as a key member of an impressive coaching lineage at PA that also includes Pete Kaligian, Ed Cloe, Matt Alosa and Rich Otis, among others.
In addition to leading the basketball program and organizing offseason youth camps, Donnell has also been a fixture in the community off the court and throughout the halls of PA as a teacher since 2012. Donnell took over as boys basketball coach before the 2022-23 season.
It is not yet clear who will replace Donnell as the Spartans’ head coach, but Jim Cilley, one of Donnell’s assistants, is seen as a viable candidate. Cilley was previously the head coach at Division 3 Belmont.
Donnell was originally diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2024, according to The Concord Monitor.
The Spartans were well represented in the playoffs this season, with both the PA boys and girls basketball teams reaching the quarterfinals of their respective state tournaments.
The boys earned a first-round bye after completing a 10-1-4 record in the regular season but ultimately fell to sixth-seeded Hollis-Brookline in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the girls notched an upset, first-round win over rival Merrimack Valley by a 2-1 score that was decided by penalty kicks. However, the Spartans could not overcome Oyster River in the second round.
Three Rivers School in Pembroke is adding some more hardware, courtesy of its girls soccer team.
The Panthers capped off an unbeaten 2025 season with a 5-3 win over Deerfield to capture the Southeast League championship. TRS finished with an overall record of 13-0-1, according to the league website.
Among the players who helped turn the program into a local dynasty are 10 eighth-graders bound for Pembroke Academy next season.
Laila Al-Shawafi, Spartan Award
Giannah Michelson, Spartan Award
Dylan Hawkins, MVP
Brandon Lurvey, Coach’s Award
Charlie Carignan, Spartan Award
Chris Semonelli, Coach’s Award
Ava Strazzeri, Spartan Award
Phoebe Morris, Coach’s Award
Ashlyn Barker, Coach’s Award
Isla Mailhot, Spartan Award
Tori LePage, Most Improved
Zachary Bemis, MVP
Nate Bussiere, Coach’s Award
Nate Poulin, MVP
Kevin Benard, Coach’s Award
Jasmine Blake, Runner of the Year
Caleb Saturley, Coach’s Award
Chloe Barker, MVP
Julianne Houde, Coach’s Award
