COACH
Donald Massey was born and raised in Newark, NJ – he started coaching in 2001 with the East Orange Police Athletic League as the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator for a youth football team. As a head coach, he led the team to win the Hudson County Youth Football League Championship in 2003 and in 2004 – finishing in second place at nationals. His high school coaching career began at East Orange Campus, where the school won its first state championship in 2007 while assisting with college recruitment for athletes. Coach Massey’s passion for fostering student-athletes led to the creation of Driven Minds, LLC, designed to support mental health and athletic development for all players. From 2010 to 2018, he coached at Malcolm X Shabazz HS, achieving notable successes, including a second state championship and the school’s first undefeated season in 2017. In 2019, Coach Massey joined the staff at West Orange High School, where he helped to expand the Driven Minds initiative, introducing yoga and skill development programs to further enhance student-athletes’ performance and well-being. His commitment to community engagement includes organizing neighborhood cleanups and charity events to support local families, ensuring a positive impact both on and off the field.