You may have lately observed the initials “AD” and hearts on the UCLA field and wondered what they meant. That is a tribute to Andrea Donahue, the wife of UCLA icon Terry Donahue. She was Terry’s wife for 52 years, and she supported him through every win, every defeat, and every major moment in UCLA football history. Back in 1990, they even established the “Andrea and Terry Donahue Football Grant-in-Aid,” which has helped many student-athletes to pursue their dreams. Andrea passed away on April 27, 2025. And with that, UCLA lost one of its biggest supporters, yet her impact lives on and off the field.

On Sunday’s episode of the Joel Klatt Show, Klatt explained that Andrea was more than simply the ideal coach’s wife; she was an inspiration to everyone. Klatt shared that he even knew her family personally, “I’m neighbors with Andrea’s daughter and her family… our kids go to the same elementary as Terry and Andrea’s grandkids… we’ve gotten to know other grandkids of the Donahues because they actually babysat for us.… we’ve gotten to know the Donahues fairly well.” Her passion for UCLA football, her faith, and her constant loyalty have influenced the Bruins community for many years.

“Andrea loved the Lord,” Klatt said, recalling her kindness and the way she encouraged others around her. “She loved her family, and she loved UCLA football. Loved it. And I loved Andrea. She was a light. She was the perfect coach’s wife. She built into people… she would come up to me every time I saw her and she would be like, ‘You know, you’re doing a great job for college football.’ And she would build into me. She didn’t have to do that. She was incredible… I miss her,” he added.

Andrea had a great impact on the field as well. According to Klatt, her legacy contributed to some of UCLA’s energy, “here was something very powerful about the way that UCLA played… part of that was Andrea. Part of it was the game plan and the belief that those players had in themselves.”

Klatt further revealed that Andrea’s granddaughter is currently a teacher at the same school as Klatt’s children, and her burial was filled with athletes. He said, “One of her granddaughters is now a teacher at the school that my boys go to. She’s a wonderful teacher…You should have seen her funeral. It was packed with all the players that she would love on like her own sons.”

Terry led UCLA to five Pac-10 titles while he was UCLA staff from 1971 to 1995. Andrea has always stood by his side the whole time. They created the “Andrea and Terry Donahue Football Grant-in-Aid,” which has helped several UCLA student-athletes. Klatt’s tribute captured it perfectly: “Her legacy is going to live on for generations… I love this sport so much. And Saturday was another reason why.” Andrea Donahue passed away in April 2025, but her influence on the UCLA football team will never be forgotten.

Andrea Donahue was the soul of UCLA football

Andrea Donahue’s kindness was felt by the entire UCLA football community and not just by former players. Andrea was always there, whether it was helping parents navigate Westwood or providing comfort following a devastating loss. As head coach DeShaun Foster put it in April, “Mrs. Donahue passed away Sunday, and she was just somebody that meant a lot to the program, to UCLA.” That is the type of subtle effect that molds a team’s spirit but doesn’t show up in record books. Andrea and Terry Donahue have been the Bruins’ heartbeat for almost two decades.

The whole community was deeply affected by her loss. In his beautiful Instagram tribute, UCLA legend and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said, “Andrea Donahue’s passing marks the end of an incredible chapter. She now joins Coach Terry Donahue, my former coach and one of the most important mentors in my life. Together, they lived with purpose, love, and a devotion to others that left a mark on everyone they knew.” Aikman even went on to share how Andrea treated every player like family, ” Andrea treated us players like family, and that’s how they lived, with open arms and open hearts. My prayers are with their daughters, son-in-laws, grandkids, and extended family as we remember a life so beautifully lived.”

When Terry’s statue was unveiled at the Rose Bowl in 2023, Andrea stood proudly beside it, surrounded by 151 bronze roses, which resembled one for every victory he had earned as head coach. She said, “It is a great honor to continue Coach Terry Donahue’s legacy.” Aikman, who helped bring that moment to life, admitted that it was emotional for him too. “His greatest gift was being an example of how to be a better man,” he said. And through Andrea’s kindness and devotion, that same lesson continued to live on. Together, they captured all that was beautiful about college football, which is love and commitment to the UCLA family that goes way beyond the game.