Doneilous King is a prolific public speaker, coach, community organizer, athlete and teacher. Among all his titles and accomplishments, he is most proud of being a Proctor High School Alumnus, graduating 25 years ago in 2000.

His high school journey shaped the course of his life. It gave him a chance to reflect on the challenges he experienced growing up in Utica, as well as the wins (both literal and figurative) that defined him.

“Coming from poverty living in inner-city Utica, I can say where you start does not determine where you finish. There's a silver lining to everything that we experience in life and our outlook and our approach is the difference. I've been blessed in my life to be connected with so many great people to make me feel like I belong, to help me discover the infinite power that is within me, and to help me realize my talents, and so I believe that we all have a purpose,” King says, talking about his path in life.

Impressively, King still remembers the names of his teachers and coaches as if it were yesterday. He found a family among his peers and educators in the Utica City School District. “Ralph Lupia was my track coach. He's the best coach that I had in high school. And I used what he taught me for basketball and every other sport. He combined a tough love with an incredible passion, and he was innovative. I remember him going to symposiums and conferences, trying to learn new things. He had a different approach even at the high school level, and it was just amazing to see. He saw something in me and taught me things about myself in terms of trying different things and putting in extra work, he was incredible,” King says.

Inside the classroom, one math teacher also stands out.  “My calculus teacher, Mrs. Dorozynski, was amazing. She had this incredible combination of nurture with a sternness and a no-nonsense approach to getting things done, and then we would always end our classes or tutoring sessions with a smile. And I'm connected with both of those folks today,” King says.

Not every day was a perfect one for this student-athlete. King learned the hard way that discipline and tough lough were essential. Serving a suspension once cost him training time for what became one of his proudest achievements: winning the New York State Championship (Class AA) 4x4 relay in track and field. His name remains on the wall at Proctor for that victory. “What that taught me is that you’ve got to follow the rules. Your team relies on you, and you have to do your part. If you work hard, you know  you can achieve great things.” King says.

Track wasn’t his only standout sport. He also excelled in basketball, earning a Section 3 runner-up title. He encourages student-athletes to explore multiple sports. When asked about his advice to student-athletes, he replied, “Until you become elite, play as many sports as you can. Try to see what you like but also to see what you're good at. And if you fall in love or experience some success with one, put as much time, research and dedication as you can into it. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and most young people are spending five, six, seven hours of screen time while serious athletes are weightlifting and they're studying film. They're doing skill development, they're doing sports psychology. And so this thing has become an actual art and science, even at the younger levels. If they don't take it seriously, it's going to be hard to compete,” says King.

This notable alumnus has given back to the community by organizing basketball leagues and academics. He has served as coach, organizer and mentor. King has given back by organizing Basketball enriched programs like Doneilous King Basketball Academy, Utica City Rocks AAU, and King of Kings Pro Am.

His programs, including King of Kings (for men and women) and the Summer Pro-Am for Upstate New York, drew players from as far as Buffalo and New York City. Now retired from coaching, he was most recently the Head Varsity Basketball Coach at the Utica Academy of Science, where he coached his son. “We were the first Black Head Coach, father-son duo for Varsity Basketball in Utica’s history,” he says, treasuring the experience.

King values teamwork and family. Today, he serves as the Senior Counselor for Educational Opportunity and DEI Specialist at SUNY POLY. He’s also taught as an adjunct professor of Sociology. He earned a Master’s in Sociology from SUNY POLY and a Bachelor's in Biology from the University of Albany.

How did he jump from science to sociology you might ask? “I studied biology at first because I wanted to become a physical therapist. I had a hamstring injury from track and loved physical therapy. I said, this is magic! I want to do this! Later, I combined my knowledge of kinesiology, movement and sports with modifying the human condition. I help people achieve goals physically, mentally and spiritually. It became a holistic approach, mind, body and soul and that connected to sociology.”

In college, King discovered he thought like a sociologist before he knew the term. One inspirational professor sparked his interest. “I wanted to know why inner-city neighborhoods were designed the way they were. Growing up, I didn't know if that was just the way that God wanted it to be, or was there something else at play? And what I found out later on, was that some systems are in place that put design in our lives. Sociology is a study of human behavior, and interaction. I've been enamored and really just in love with it ever since. ”

In closing, Doneilous King shares, “I am who I am today: an athlete, father, business owner, educator and a professional because of my family, my community and what Proctor and the Utica City School District did for me. I'm truly thankful to the Utica City School District.”