Billy Donovan has proven more than loyal in building the Florida men's basketball program through 17 seasons.
But in a candid interview with Dan LeBatard on AM 790 in Miami on Wednesday night, Donovan sounded like a coach still with an itch to work in the NBA someday.
When asked if he's ruled out ever coaching in the NBA, Donovan said. "The one thing that I think is always intriguing the older I get is the fact that (the NBA) is just all about basketball. I love the practices, I love the games, I love doing individual instruction and breaking down tape and game planning and doing those things.
"Sometimes, I think, as you get older there is a lot of other things that you have to do here in college. For me, right now, I love Florida. I think the one thing that I've been fortunate of here is I've had the same athletic director, Jeremy Foley, since I first came here. He hired me and he's still here. He's wonderful and we have a great relationship."
Donovan signed a three-year contact extension a year ago that pays him an average salary of $3.5 million per year through the end of the 2015-16 season. There is a $500,000 buyout, though both sides can terminate the contract without cause for a one-month window between March 1 and April 1.
In 2007, Donovan left Florida to accept a head coaching job with the Orlando Magic, but returned to Florida six days later after a change of heart. Donovan said in the radio interview it was a "gut feeling" to return to Florida. Family also played a role in the decision. Donovan's two oldest children were just starting high school at the time, and in a Gainesville speaking engagement a few years ago, Donovan said "it's very rare in this day and age in coaching to have one of your sons go through elementary school, middle school and high school in one city."
Donovan's two oldest children are now in college (his daughter Hasbrouck is on an equestrian scholarship at Auburn and son Billy is a walk-on with the UF men's basketball team). He perhaps also is intrigued by the NBA after seeing the success his former players are having at the next level. There are 10 former Gators currently in the NBA and three (Joakim Noah, Al Horford and David Lee) are averaging double-doubles. It's not a stretch to say Donovan could put together a roster of former players and build an NBA-playoff caliber ballclub.
Here's what former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said last month when asked if Donovan's coaching style would be successful at the NBA level.
"He'd be great," Van Gundy said. "There's no doubt about it. I know the guy's offense would translate great to the NBA level. He knows how to work to that level, that mentality because he's coached a lot of pro-caliber players."
how long was his ban from the NBA? Not a good move by Donovan to start saying this in the middle of a great year. The guy knows basketball but they never know when to close their mouths.
by John
sorry, no way Billy D leaves for the NBA. He will retire a gator, bet on it.
by Ryan
Nothing wrong with doing a little trolling. I believe he is too much of a stand up guy to stick it to the recruits. If Billy D. has the option of staying and retiring here, being a name that means Gator basketball, he stays.
by LowCountryGator
Coach Donovan has earned the right to pursue his personal goals and dreams without asking for permission from any of us.
Yes, we would miss him tremendously and we would all love for him to retire from coaching as the all-time winningest coach in UF history but that still remains his decision.
If or when he does decide to leave the Gators, we only need to thank him for making our basketball program one of the country's elite programs in our football-crazed state and conference. And I hope the the UF and UAA administration add his statue outside the O'Dome to show him and his family how much gratitude Gators everywhere have for them.
Coach D. is nothing but classy. Anything less from the rest of us would just be crass…
by dcgators
@John – Donovan signed a 5 year "non compete" clause
@Ryan – Donovan never said that he would retire at Florida. It wouldn't surprise me if he left Florida to try the NBA again.
by Gary
Billy D is the man. What he has done for Florida basketball is unprecedented. Imagine a coach winning 2 national titles, playing for another, and being a competitor year in and year out in football at Indiana or Duke. That's what Billy has done at UF in basketball!
by tom
All of the aforementioned sentiments have validity. We can only thank Billy D, and we know he is the kind of person who speaks what is on his mind and answers questions honestly. Who could blame him for considering the NBA, it goes WITHOUT SAYING, which, I have a feeling he would agree, this was not the time to be talking about it….mistake for sure, we forgive him, he has an awful lot of chits! Last, what an AWESOME job he is doing this year, this team (of not that great talent) is SOOOOO much fun to watch, and so easy to love….I'm having a BALL already….not going to mention National Championship (oh….chit….I just did!) should have gone WITHOUT SAYING!
by G8torB8
Don't go Billy!!!
by Al
Billy D may retire at Florida if the fans would show the same support they do for the football team. It's pathetic how good our team is, yet how empty the ODome is on a regular basis. I'm sure it's disheartening to him and the team to that. maybe it will get better during the SEC season. I sure hope so!
That being said, even though we support the football team well, from what I've heard, we've sold the least amount of bowl tickets out of all the SEC teams going bowling. Again: what's up with that?! We just went 11-1 after two dismal seasons, and we can't sell out 10,000 or so tickets for the game? Pathetic!!!
Come on Gators, support your teams!!!
by John S
I would miss him terribly…don't ever go Billy. The NBA will never give you the love that the Gator fans feel for you.
by Brian Rice
He has a short memory. He needs to talk to coach K, and ask him. I think Coach K will say he has it made.
by greg
Nooooo! Seriously, Coach D has given us so much more than we could have ever imagined. As much as we would loathe the day, I, for one, support whatever his aspirations may be. Hopefully they are to coach at UF for his whole career, but if not, Godspeed Billy D!
by Falco
Mrs. Donovan won't let him.
by brr-bon phil
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
by Rooferman
I can understand why Billy would want to just coach basketball which the NBA would provide him. He needs to remember that in the NBA you have the biggest collection of immature, hard headed athletes who rarely listen to a coach that makes less than they do.
In college you have control over your talent and they listen to you. You simply do not have that in the NBA.
by Kris
Foley & Billy great combo. Gator fans need to appreciate both of them more. Go Gators!
by pj stefan
@DCGator
The haters are the same "fans" that don't like Urban Myer anymore. That's just plain hateful and stupid thinking. He(Billy and Urban) won us two National Titles. They earned the right to do whatever the hell they choose.
by Sambizle
Billy can get people to believe in Billyball at any level but his son is a walk on at Florida there is 3 years. I think it would take a change at AA before he would leave. He would have Orlando at the next level had he stayed and could have. Promises were made then and he is a man to keep his promises. Maybe way down the road but then again maybe not.
by Gatordean
John S. is right about the fan support. Football is over for the year. Time to fill the Dome every game from here on out. That is the atmosphere that would keep Billy in Gville. for a long time!
by AtlMike
STATUE
STATUE
STATUE
STATUE
and if he wins a 3rd NC maybe change the name of the O-Dome to the D-Dome, or at least incorporate his name onto the building.
Hell, he made us relevant like we never were before in basketball.
I hope he stays forever, and best wishes to him whatever he decides because he earned it!!!
by GaToRcHomP
What I don't like is Brockway posting this non-news blog the day after Jabari Parker chooses a date to commit to a school.
by brr-bon phil