Sounds like Billy Donovan will get another year with Chicago Bulls

There was a time when Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan looked like the top target when Mitch Barnhart was conducting a coaching search to find a new leader for the Kentucky men’s basketball program. However, the Cats quickly shifted to Mark Pope instead of waiting for the NBA season to end to pursue Donovan.

That was likely a very good decision. There was never any guarantee that the third Kentucky coaching search that Donovan was involved in would have turned out any different than the others. But the Cats were not the only big basketball brand to consider him for a job. The only problem is that the Chicago Bulls do not want Donovan going anywhere.

The New York Knicks were turned down again in their pursuit of hiring a sitting NBA head coach. Billy Donovan will be returning to the United Center for a sixth season in 2025-26.

The Knicks requested permission to speak to Billy Donovan for their coaching vacancy but were denied, per sources. The Bulls value Donovan highly for his coaching acumen, communication skills and ability to connect with players and all members of organization.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 12, 2025

The 60-year-old former Kentucky assistant who led Florida to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007 will be entering his 11th season as a NBA head coach. Donovan spent five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder and led that franchise five consecutive playoffs with a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2016. The same results have not followed in Chicago but Donovan has not had the same star power at his disposal.

The Bulls have only made the playoffs once under Billy Donovan and have only won more than 40 games once. Chicago is fresh off three consecutive losing seasons but is running it back with Donovan one more time.

Meanwhile, Florida just won another national title with Todd Golden and expectations are sky-high at Kentucky entering year two under Pope. Will the Knicks now make a run at UConn head coach Dan Hurley like the Los Angeles Lakers did last summer?

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