Legendary Gators coach Billy Donovan selected to Basketball Hall of Fame
Former Florida Gators basketball coach Billy Donovan has been selected for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, it was announced Saturday. Donovan coached the Gators for 19 seasons from 1996-2015. He won two national championships, advanced to four Final Fours, claimed six Southeastern Conference regular season championships and recorded 467 wins.
The Naismith’s official website wrote the following on Donovan, who today coaches the NBA’s Chicago Bulls: “Donovan is a two-time NCAA national champion coach who achieved unparalleled success during his tenure at the University of Florida (1996-2015). He guided the Gators to consecutive national titles in 2006 and ‘07 and four Final Four appearances while recording over 500 total victories at Florida and Marshall (1994-96). After his collegiate success, Donovan transitioned to the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and Chicago Bulls (2020-present) to over 400 wins. The former Providence College point guard under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.”
Donovan, now 59, was only 30 when Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley snatched him from Marshall to replace Lon Kruger as Gators coach. It ended up being one of the best hires in the history of SEC athletics — not just at Florida. Donovan went 467–186 in Gainesville and made the Elite Eight or better seven times. Donovan’s program is one of only eight to have won consecutive national championships in men’s college basketball.
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Because he had such an outstanding career as a college coach, some may tend to forget Donovan also was an elite college player. He averaged 20 points and 7 assists a game as a senior to lead Providence to the 1987 Final Four.
Per the Associated Press, “Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are going into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, not once but twice. And LeBron James and Chris Paul are part of the group that’s headed to the Hall as well, even before their playing careers end. Also selected for enshrinement: WNBA greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.”
