When Don Donoher took the reins of the UD men's basketball team 20 years ago, the school had 647 victories to its credit. Donoher had no victories to his credit and had never officially coached a varsity basketball game at any level of competition.

It is doubtful if at that time he noticed that UD needed 353 victories to claim one thousand, and it would have been unthinkable to realized that Donoher needed the same number of wins to pass the late Tom Blackburn as the winningest coach in the school's history.

If no one noted those milestones then, the 12,112 fans at the UD Arena did Saturday. Dayton defeated Vermont 81-53 to become the 32nd NCAA Division I basketball program to claim one thousand victories while Donoher became the winningest Coach in Flyer history with that 353rd win.

To add more ironic twists to an already ironic set of events, Donoher played in 72 games for Blackburn from 1951-54 and was captain his senior season. Blackburn was also Donoher's immediate predecessor at UD, and Donoher replaced Blackburn after Blackburn died of cancer.

"Some people set out to accomplish something," Donoher said after number 353. "I didn't plan anything...I set out to be a high school coach."

In a post game ceremony, medallions commemorating the accomplishments were presented to Donoher, his assistant coaches, team members, cheerleaders and University President Bro. Raymond Fitz. Donoher also received a special presentation from the University and Fitz was given the game ball to enshrine in the school's Hall of Fame.

"I'm glad to have this all behind...I can go back to being the village idiot. I'm more comfortable in that role," Donoher said. "The next time Dayton wins a thousand I'll be a sad-looking corpse."

Donoher and Blackburn have now coached in 704 of the Flyers' one thousand victories, and Donoher is quick to praise his predecessor and former mentor.

"Tom was amazing. He's our Ray Meyer (DePaul's legendary coach), our John Wooden (former UCLA head coach)," Donoher said.

Another Donoher milestone, 400 wins, is just 47 victories away, but Donoher is not making any predictions.

"Things just happen. Whatever the future holds will be fine," he said.