The BC Lions confirmed former head coach Larry Donovan’s death on Monday, April 14, 2025. However, the prime reason behind his demise remains unknown.
Larry Donovan is survived by his wife of 58 years, Georgia Merriam, and their three daughters.
Georgia Merriam was a beauty pageant winner; she bagged the title of Miss Nebraska Universe in 1964. Likewise, she was also a pom-pom cheerleader at the University of Nebraska.
Georgia graduated from the University of Nebraska, where they crossed paths for the first time. Eventually, their bond blossomed into something that lasted until Donovan’s last breath.
The longtime married couple, Donovan and Georgia, walked down the aisle in 1966 and shared three daughters: Andrea, Molly, and Lindsay.
While Donovan’s life was like an open book, his wife, Georgia, maintained a private life away from media scrutiny.
Following Donovan’s demise, Jamie Taras, the director of BC Lions, expressed grief writing:
Throughout his tenure, Larry was a positive influence on everyone in our organization. He always had a great upbeat energy that trickled down to the rest of the team. Our thoughts are with his wife Georgia, their three daughters and entire family.
BC Lions
Larry Donovan’s Coaching Career Spanned Over Five Decades Across Several Teams!
Donovan, born on March 31, 1941, in Casper, Wyoming, had a life filled with varied experiences.
He was a star athlete at Scottsbluff High School in Nebraska, earning a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he played football and competed in track.
Donovan began his career with military service as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving in Oklahoma and Korea, and was awarded a commendation medal.
He also joined the National Guard while coaching in South Dakota, showing his dedication to his country and sports.
Donovan’s coaching career lasted over 50 years, taking him to teams across the U.S., Canada, Korea, and Japan.
Before moving to Vancouver, he was the head coach at the University of Montana from 1980 to 1985 and led the team to a Big Sky Conference championship in 1982.
In 1986, Donovan started his CFL career with the BC Lions as a special teams and defensive line coach under Don Matthews.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Larry Donovan. Larry served as our 13th head coach for 26 regular season games from 1987-89 & led the team to an appearance in the 76th Grey Cup in '88. Our thoughts are with his wife Georgia, their three daughters & the entire family.
— BC LIONS (@BCLions) April 14, 2025
In 1987, he became the interim head coach and helped the team win four games in a row to finish the season on top of the West Division.
In 1988, his first full season as head coach, Donovan led the Lions to a 10-8 record and a Grey Cup final, narrowly losing 22-21 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a heartbreaker at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium.
However, the 1989 season was tough, and after four losses, Donovan was let go. He later worked as a linebackers coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1990 and 1991, reuniting with Don Matthews.
Outside the CFL, Donovan coached the X League Hurricanes in Japan from 1992 to 2007 and worked as a consultant for the Asahi Beverage Challengers in Osaka in 2010.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Larry Donovan was inducted into the Scottsbluff High School Hall of Fame in 2024.
- He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a football scholarship, lettering in football and track.
