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.
Su paso por el instituto marcó el curso de su vida. Le dio la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre los retos que experimentó al crecer en Utica, así como sobre las victorias (literales y figuradas) que le definieron.
"Viniendo de la pobreza y viviendo en el centro de la Utica, puedo decir que donde empiezas no determina donde terminas. Todo lo que experimentamos en la vida tiene un lado positivo, y nuestra perspectiva y nuestro enfoque marcan la diferencia. En mi vida he tenido la suerte de estar en contacto con mucha gente estupenda que me ha hecho sentir que pertenezco a algo, que me ha ayudado a descubrir el poder infinito que hay en mí y a desarrollar mi talento, y por eso creo que todos tenemos un propósito", dice King al hablar de su trayectoria vital.
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 love 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.
El atletismo no fue su único deporte destacado. También destacó en baloncesto, donde fue subcampeón de la Sección 3. Anima a los estudiantes-atletas a que practiquen varios deportes. Cuando se le preguntó por su consejo a los estudiantes-deportistas, respondió: "Hasta que llegues a la élite, practica tantos deportes como puedas. Intenta ver qué te gusta, pero también en qué eres bueno. Y si te enamoras o tienes éxito con uno, dedícale todo el tiempo, la investigación y la dedicación que puedas. Todos tenemos las mismas 24 horas al día, y la mayoría de los jóvenes dedican cinco, seis o siete horas a la pantalla, mientras que los deportistas serios hacen pesas y estudian películas. Ellos están haciendo el desarrollo de habilidades, que están haciendo la psicología del deporte. Así que esto se ha convertido en un arte y una ciencia, incluso en los niveles más jóvenes. Si no se lo toman en serio, será difícil competir", afirma King.
This notable alumnus has given back to the community by organizing basketball leagues and academics. He has served as a 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 Polytechnic Institute. He’s also taught as an adjunct professor of sociology. He earned a master’s in sociology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor's in biology from the University at 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, 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.”