2026 Inductee Donnie Tillar

by Panchito Ojeda

As we begin 2026 we are recognizing each of our Hall of Famers with short bios put together by some of our esteemed alumni and spearheaded by fellow Hall of Famer Kurt Kuhn. Today we recognize Donnie Tillar.

Lt Donnie Tillar was a VTCC cadet that played Attack for Virginia Tech in 1987. His charisma and abilities as a player and leader seemed effortless, creating a team environment that elevated Virginia Tech Lacrosse to another level felt in the program for years following his departure, including leading the team to one of the best VT Lacrosse single season records in a decade. His impact on the Virginia Tech Lacrosse team and program in a single year was so profound that the VT Lacrosse "Rookie of the Year Award" was named in his honor for his outstanding contributions in such a short time.

Donnie provided the life blood of VT Lacrosse in 1987. He was an unassuming guy that made everyone around him better. His season at Virginia Tech was his last playing at the collegiate level. Prior to his arrival at Virginia Tech, Donnie played Attack for a DI top 10 West Point team before returning to graduate from West Point in 1988.

Donnie continued his devotion to the sport and VT program after graduating from West Point. His final act in a Virginia Tech Lacrosse uniform was as an alumnus. He led the Alumni team to victory in the 1989 Alumni Weekend lacrosse game against the current VT Lacrosse team. The Alumni were previously winless in the annual alumni lacrosse game but the win, casually referred to at the time as “The One”, as in 1 – 10, was due in large part to Donnie.

He was a Blackhawk pilot assigned to the First Mechanized Infantry Division Cavalry Regiment in Fort Riley, KS in 1988. While stationed at Fort Riley, he founded the Kansas State Lacrosse program playing and coaching the Wildcats in their first two years of existence before deploying to the first Gulf War. Donnie gave his life doing what he loved, flying helicopters.

The Kansas State Lacrosse team was profoundly affected by the loss of their founder and leader. To honor and memorialize his contributions, the Kansas State Lacrosse team started “The Tillar Tournament” to not only honor their fallen leader but honor all service members and veterans drawing high school and college teams from throughout the Midwest. This tournament continues to this day now teaming with Shootout for Vets in support of veteran’s causes. Kansas State honors his time at West Point and Virginia Tech every season, memorializing him on their helmets and jerseys with the motto; Friend, Leader, Hero. Donnie did, and continues to do, more for the sport, the VT program and team in his short 25 years of life than most do in a lifetime.