James Madison head coach Joshua Walters, Sr. announced the hiring of Rob Donnenwirth as assistant coach on July 23, 2021.

In his third season in Harrisonburg in 2023, Donnenwirth helped the Dukes return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015. JMU finished with a 9-5-8 record and made its second consecutive appearance in the Sun Belt Conference championship match before earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship. Working with the goalkeepers, he saw the Dukes record 11 shutouts to tie for the second most in a single season, while Alexandra Blom finished her career in the top five of goals against average, saves, solo shutouts and total shutouts. Suwaitbatu Mohammed, Brittany Munson and Alba Fernández Almagro all were named All-Sun Belt while Mohammed and Munson also earned All-Region recognition.

Donnenwirth helped the Dukes navigate through the inaungural season in the Sun Belt Conference in his second season in 2022, helping the Dukes to a 12-4-5 record and an appearance in the championship match. Working primarily with the goalkeepers, Donnenwirth helped the Dukes set multiple program records in goals against average (0.56), goals allowed (12), shutouts (13) and consecutive minutes without being scored upon (475:31). Alexandra Blom was named the Sun Belt Goalkeeper of the Year, while also earning All-Southeast Region and All-Sun Belt First Team honors. Munson joined Blom on the All-Sun Belt First Team while also earning All-Region Second Team honors. Lexi Vanderlinden and Soleil Flores were tabbed to the All-Sun Belt Second Team, while Vanderlinden garnered All-Region Third Team honors. Amanda Attanasi was also named Second Team All-Region.

In his first season back at JMU, Donnenwirth helped lead the Dukes to a 9-9-1 record and the No. 3 seed in the CAA Tournament. Four Dukes were named All-CAA, with Ebony Wiseman on First Team, Ginger Deel and Brittany Munson on Second Team and Amanda Attanasi on the Third and All-Rookie Teams. They finished with their most conference wins since the 2018 season.

Donnenwirth returns to Harrisonburg after beginning his coaching career at JMU as an assistant on the men’s soccer team from 1988-1990 before becoming an assistant for women’s soccer’s inaugural season in 1990. Since then, he was at Massachusetts (1992-94) as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program before becoming the head coach for the women’s soccer programs at North Carolina Wesleyan (1994-99) and East Carolina (1999-2017). He returns back to the Shenandoah Valley after serving as an assistant on Arkansas’ women’s soccer program for the last three seasons.

Donnenwirth is the winningest coach at both North Carolina Wesleyan and East Carolina, being inducted into the NCWC Hall of Fame in 2007. He has won eight conference championships over his 32 years of coaching and has an overall record of 239-177-53 as a head coach.

Before going into coaching, Donnenwirth was the starting goalkeeper for West Virginia Wesleyan College where he won two NAIA national championships in 1984 and 1985. He earned a degree in marketing in 1988 and is in their Hall of Fame with the 1984 and 1985 teams.

“I want to thank Josh for bringing me home,” Donnenwirth said. “JMU has always had a special place in my wife and I’s hearts and I am looking forward to working with Josh and Devin and getting started. Good to be home!”