Donald Wayne Powers

Donald Wayne Powers, 73, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Jane Strickland Powers died Monday, December 4, 2017. His Funeral Service will be held Thursday, December 7, 2017 in Summerall Chapel at The Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Donald was born November 14, 1944, native of Lincolnton, NC, son of the late Lonnie Harold Powers and the late Martha Bost Powers. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 1967 and received his Masters in Education from Western Carolina in 1968. He coached college football for 34 years. His career began at Western Carolina University in 1968-1983. At WCU, he served as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, and the first football coach to be named assistant head coach in WCU history. In 1984, Powers served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Western Kentucky University. In 1985-88, Powers was defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at East Carolina University. He then served at The Citadel from 1989-1995 as defensive coordinator and in 1996 was named Head Coach until 2000. In 2007, he returned to his Alma Mater, Western Carolina University, to serve as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Powers received many awards and honors as a player and coach throughout his life and career. As a player he earned district 26 honors three times and MVP his senior year as an linebacker and defensive end. Powers' 1974 defensive team at WCU finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense by allowing just 87 points in 11 games. Five times from 1976-1983 his WCU defense ranked among the NCAA leaders in pass defense. In 1983, the Catamounts went to the NCAA-1AA national championship game. At The Citadel in the 90's, three of his units lead the Southern Conference and he helped coach the Bulldogs to a Conference Championship in 1992 and two NCAA 1-AA playoff appearances. He is a two time Southern Conference Assistant Coach of the year while at The Citadel. In 2004, Powers was inducted into the Lincoln County, NC Sports Hall of Fame. In the fall of 2016, a group of former Citadel football players created a book in tribute to Powers called "The Powers In Us". The book was a collection of his "Powerisms" or his quotes that have impacted these players lives. Powers was the sole inductee into Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 as a player and a coach. Off the field, Powers shared a passion for flying as a private pilot for 44 years. After hanging up his whistle, Powers continued his joy of learning with computers, technology, and cooking. Powers used football to inspire, mentor and influence his family, players, colleagues and friends about life. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. Powerism #8, "Pray for a stronger back, not a lighter load". He is survived by his wife, Jane Powers of Mt. Pleasant, SC; two daughters, Cassie P. Hanna (Brad) of Florence, SC and Carrie P. Zipperer (Ros) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; two brothers, Michael E. Powers (Judy) of Hickory, NC and Larry A. Powers (Kim) of Denver, NC; sister, Carolyn P. Smith (Jan) of Marietta, GA; three grandchildren, Simmons Hanna, James Hanna and William Zipperer. A special thank you to Dr. John Rowe, Jr., Dr. Michael Zile and to his nurse Sarah Falzarano for her loving and constant care. Memorials may be made to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation in honor of Don Powers and "The Powers in Us" book available at www.amazon.com, Attention: Andy Solomon, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409 and Western Carolina Catamount Club and the Coach Don Powers Endowed Scholarship, WCU Athletics, 92 Catamount Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723 and Amedisys Hospice Care, www.amedisys.com, 1027 Physicians Drive, Suite 240, Charleston, SC 29414.