Donna Polk joined the Bowie State University family in October 2005 as the Associate Athletic Director for Operations. Polk was appointed Head Women’s Basketball Coach/Associate Athletic Director from 2008-2011. After a three year stint as Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Polk returned full-time as Associate Athletic Director March 2011 and then appointed Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) July 2011. As Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Polk will assist with the day to day business operations while overseeing compliance and student services of the department. In addition, Polk will have oversight over sports medicine, sports information, women’s volleyball, softball and the men’s and women’s track and field programs. She also served as Interim Athletic Director for six months (July 12, 2014 - January 6, 2015).
As women’s basketball coach, Polk compiled a 55-29 record and led the Lady Bulldogs to two straight CIAA finals appearances in 2009 and 2010. During her first season, the Lady Bulldogs captured the 2009 CIAA Eastern Division Title, finished with a final NCAA Atlantic Regional ranking of 9th and produced CIAA Defensive Player of the Year in Denesha Kenion. During Polk’s second season, the Lady Bulldogs were ranked regionally the entire season achieving the highest ranking of 4th and were able to crack the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll for one week at 25th. In Polk’s final season, the Lady Bulldogs reached the conference semi-finals. For the second time under Polk’s leadership, the Lady Bulldogs were able to garner the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Award in Chanita Jordan. Other accomplishments under Polk were All-CIAA players in Bianca Lee and Teaunsha Robinson for season’s 2009 and 2010 and 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively and 1000 point achievers in Bianca Lee during the 2009-2010 season and Teaunsha Robinson during the 2010-2011 season.
Polk came to BSU after working at her alma mater Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University, serving as director of compliance, sports information director and office manager from 2002-2005.
Polk's athletic experience includes stints as Head and Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Columbia Union College, Head Girl's Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball Coach and Assistant Junior Varsity Softball Coach at Bowie High School. Polk played four seasons for the Lady Pioneers of Columbia Union College basketball team (1987-1991) and is a member of the 1,000 point club. Polk also played two seasons of softball at Columbia Union College.
Currently, Polk is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC), and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). Polk serves on several BSU committees, is a member of the CIAA Bowling and Softball Championship Committees, a member of the NCAA Atlantic Region Softball Ranking Committee and served on the NCAA Atlantic Region Women’s Basketball Committee from 2007-2010. In addition, Polk graduated from NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement (2012) and currently serving a four-year term as a member on the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Committee.
The Harbeson, Delaware native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia Union College and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
