University of San Francisco Athletics

In 1993, McDonald graduated from Del Campo High School. He played on both the Del Campo soccer team and with River City Soccer Club. He attended the University of San Francisco where he played on the men's soccer team from 1993 to 1996. During the 1996 off-season, he played for the San Francisco Bay Seals in the USISL. He was a member of the Regional Olympic Development Team and holds Sacramento area high school records for goals in a season (63) and career goals (151).

From June 1997 to January 2005, he played with the Sacramento Knights of the Continental Indoor Soccer, League, the Nashville Metros of the USISL, the San Diego Sockers, and the Cleaveland Force of the MISL.