Pete Thamel on Kentucky coaching search: 'The conversation begins with Billy Donovan'

With John Calipari reportedly off to Arkansas, Kentucky is starting its first coaching search in 15 years. There’s sure to be a long list of potential candidates for the job – but, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, one stands out above the rest.

“There’s one name that looms over all,” Thamel said on SportsCenter, “and that’s Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan.”

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Donovan’s resume speaks for itself at the collegiate level. He made spent nearly 20 years at Florida, leading the program to four Final Fours and back-to-back national championships. All told, he amassed a 467-186 record in Gainesville, and the court at the O’Connell Center bears his name.

Donovan is no stranger to Lexington, though. He started his coaching career at UK under Rick Pitino, for whom he played at Providence before a brief professional career. That tie makes his possible candidacy even more intriguing. And while there are other names Kentucky will likely consider – including one coaching in Monday’s national championship – Thamel said Donovan is at the forefront of the conversation.

“He is the Hail Mary hire,” Thamel said. “He is the home run hire and he is who Kentucky is going to make say no. I’d bet Dan Hurley tonight, after the title game, will be asked about that and he’ll probably get a pay raise out of the timing that this comes out. There’s aspirational candidates like Jay Wright. If Billy Donovan does say no, I think you go to a list of college coaches. Scott Drew, to me, is the most realistic. Guys like Nate Oats, guys like TJ Otzelberger have buyouts close to $20 million. So you need both coaches who are interested and then, coaches who are financially feasible.

“But I think the conversation begins with Billy Donovan, and then the search really begins if he says no – or, if he comes back to Lexington.”

After the 2015 season, Donovan made the leap to the NBA as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He took the franchise to five straight playoff appearances before his contract wasn’t renewed, opening the door for him to land with the Chicago Bulls. It hasn’t been an easy go in Chicago, though, with a first-round exit in his second season and a play-in loss last year. The Bulls are heading back to the Play-In Tournament this year against the Atlanta Hawks.

All told, Donovan has a 361-277 record as an NBA head coach entering Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks.