Mark Donnelly, a 10-year coach in the Ballard Knights junior football organization, passed away Jan. 3 after a private battle with cancer.

In eight seasons as the head coach at the Bantams level, Donnelly won five championships and was loved by his players.

"He didn't treat anybody like a little kid," Frank Airey, 14, said. "He treated them like grown men and spoke to them like that."

Cathy Miller, a friend of Donnelly's whose sons were coached by him, said she found out third-hand about his illness in the spring.

Miller said Donnelly was a private person and made it clear he didn't want the illness to be a focus. His close friends didn't even find out he had cancer until this fall, she said.

Rick Alba, who coached with Donnelly for a number of seasons, said he was one of the greatest coaches and treated the players fairly and with respect.

"I know they really loved him," Alba said. "He made kids love football."

There will be a memorial service for Donnelly at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Loyal Heights Community Center. Former players are asked to wear their jerseys or Ballard Junior Football shirts.

See expanded coverage in the Jan. 21 print issue of the Ballard News-Tribune.

Michael Harthorne can be reached at 783-1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com.