Donatello Marcantoni (College Balloon Ball)

Donatello Marcantoni was an American College Balloon Ball coach.

April 30, 2017

## Life

Donatello was born to Janna Marcantoni on August 9, 1941, in Rocca Di Mezzo, Italy. Donatello's father, Brando Marcantoni, died shortly after his birth when fighting in World War 2. Donatello, his mother, and his three older brothers Brando, Lorenzo, and Angelo remained in Italy until 1946, when they amassed enough money to sail to America. After crossing the Atlantic on a small, crowded ship, they arrived in New York City in August. The Marcantoni family resided in Brooklyn. Janna worked long hours during the day and night to give her son's an education in poor working conditions. Due to her hard work however, her children were able to go to school. After graduating high school, Donatello joined the United States Air Force in 1960. During his time at the Air Force Academy, Donatello joined the school's newly founded balloon ball team. Although Donatello and his teammates would have little success during their time on the team. Donatello would spend 6 years in the Air Force, and would serve in the Vietnam War. After leaving the Air Force in 1969, he would move back to Colorado Springs. After returning, he would begin to study for a degree in Education at the Air Force Academy. While there, Donatello would also become an assistant Defensive Coach for Air Force Falcon's men's balloon ball team. After getting his degree in 1972, Donatello would move to Boulder, Colorado, where he would find a job at the University of Colorado Boulder as an assistant professor of Education. He would also work on the school's men's balloon ball team as an assistant offensive coach. After remaining at that position until 1977, Donatello would return to Colorado Springs, this time to become the academy's primary professor of education. That same year, he would also become the Falcon's Balloon ball team's Offensive Coach and assistant head coach. In 1984, he would resign from his position as education professor to take the job of head men's balloon ball coach at Air Force. Donatello would remain at Air Force until 2003, bringing the program large amounts of success, especially in the mid and late 90's. When Donatello departed Air Force, he was hired as the head men's balloon ball coach at the University of Washington. Donatello would quickly build the program into a national contender, and would eventually lead them to a national title in 2010.

On January 3, 2013, Donatello would suffer a heart attack at his Seattle, Washington home. He would be rushed to the hospital, where he would remain in intensive care until January 15. Donatello would be released on the 20th. On August 2, 2013, Donatello would suffer a fall during a hike in Tiger Mountain State Forest, resulting in him breaking both his hip and his arm. On August 7, 2013, he would announce that he would take a medical leave of absence for the entire 2014 season. Half way into the 2015 season, Marcantoni would fall onto his knees during a game between Washington and Arizona State. It would be determined that he was suffering from a bout of vertigo. In 2016, Marcantoni would announce that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Despite the diagnosis, he would continue to coach for the entirety of the season, leading his team to a final ranking of #2, and an appearance in the Elite 8. Upon the conclusion of the season, coach Marcantoni would announce his official retirement from coaching.

On April 30, 2017, Donatello Marcantoni would die at a hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado, surrounded by family. He was 75.

 1973-1977
 1978-1983
 1984-2003
 2004-2016

Donatello Marcantoni was married to Shayla Danfield from 1969 to their divorce in 1970. Donatello married again in 1971, this time to Baily Rockefeller. They divorced later that year. Marcantoni would marry for a third time in 1978, this time to Kathy Marry. They would remain married until 1982. They would have five kids together; Ramond (1978), Angelo (1979), twins Daniel and Ceaser (1980), and Cassidy (1982). Ramond died in 1979 at the age of 11 months due to natural causes. Angelo died in 1999 while attending the University of Kansas, after he was shot during a drug-deal gone wrong. Cassidy died in 2000 after collapsing while she was playing in a collegiate woman's basketball game between her alma mater Air Force and Army. Daniel currently works as the Offensive Assistant offensive coach for the University of Denver Men's Balloon ball team. Ceaser is the current head coach of the Air Force Falcons Men's Balloon Ball team, a job he took over in 2018.

## Head Coaching Record

### Washington

\*Marcantoni took a medical leave of absence for the entirety of the 2014 season after breaking both his hip and his arm shortly before the start of the season. Raequon Jarvis coached the team during his absence.