As a player, he helped end the province's painfully long wait for the Log o' Wood in Hamilton four years ago with a dominant performance in the lineout.
It had been 56 years since Otago last won the coveted prize and Donnelly's memories of that 26-19 win against Waikato are a bit sketchy.
''I can't remember too much to be honest but I remember a few good days celebrating afterwards,'' he said.
''It was just a really good week. The boys prepared really well and we just went up there with a really good attitude.
''We had a really good set piece and our defence was awesome. We got off the line and were putting in good shots to try to slow their ball down.''
''It was just a combination of things that we got right on the night.''
The Shield was only in the province for nine days. Otago lost it on its first defence against Hawkes Bay but it sure covered a bit of territory during that short stint.
Social websites were awash with an array of folk posing next to it.
Former Otago winger Marshall Suckling, who plays for Canterbury these days, took it a step further. He posed naked with it at the Spur at the Remarkables mountain range. The shield was strategically placed, thankfully.
Despite the advent of professional rugby, that mad week or so was a reminder the Ranfurly Shield still evokes a little nuttiness.
''You can see how important it is, especially in the last couple of years when other teams have had a little sniff of it and how much it still means to rugby in New Zealand,'' Donnelly said.
''It is a very special trophy. It definitely still has all its mana for everyone who plays for it and tries to win it.''
Donnelly, who played 15 tests for the All Blacks, retired from playing this year and is still finding his feet in his coaching role.
Otago made a clumsy start to its campaign with a sloppy opening hour against North Harbour.
It almost stole the game with an impressive final burst. But Donnelly said his side will need to make big improvements if it is going to press a powerful Canterbury side, which dispatched Tasman 39-0 in its opener.
''It is a bit hard to win games of rugby if you can't hold on to the ball,'' he said.
''We can't cough it up so easily.''
''The last 20-25 minutes we started to get a few combinations going and played a lot better. Hopefully, with another week of training, we will be able to make a step up this weekend.
''Rugby in Canterbury is going pretty well. They've had a fantastic season with the Crusaders and obviously that has flowed on to their first game with Canterbury. They played pretty well.''