Billy Donovan, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, is in high demand as a coach.
Donovan has become a “hail mary” contender to succeed John Calipari after the latter left Kentucky for Arkansas, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel on April 8.
During his 19 seasons as the University of Florida’s coach, Donovan guided the team to consecutive titles in 2005–06 and 2006–07. Chandler Parsons, a former Gators player who is currently a FanDuel TV pundit, was adamantly opposed to his old coach changing sides.
Parsons said, “No. F*** no,” on April 8th on “Run It Back.” “You don’t travel from Florida to Kentucky. Not in a manner. If he gets that job, I will never speak to him again. Yet that would be a fantastic job.
“You don’t travel from Florida to Florida State or from Florida to Kentucky.”
Before making the move to the NBA, Parsons, a player under Donovan from 2008 to 2011, said he would speak with the current Bulls coach once more should he accept the role as head coach of the Wildcats.
Donovan has a past with the institution as well; following his playing career, he started working as a coach there in 1987.
Kentucky’s “dream candidate” for head coaching position is Billy Donovan.
On The Athletic’s “call list” of possible successors to Calipari, Donovan is one of nine names.
“The ideal contender for supporters of Kentucky since, oh, roughly 2007.” Donovan doesn’t carry the stigma of his previous employer, having worked as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky,” the college basketball writers at The Athletic stated on April 7. Would he, however, quit the NBA to move to Lexington’s fishbowl? Is he interested in going back to college? [Athletic Director Mitch] Barnhart must at least phone him and tell him no, even though it seems doubtful.
Donovan has observed the significantly altered scene since he last coached college basketball in 2014–15.
Prior to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s redevelopment, he also left the team in 2021 and signed a late contract with the Bulls.
The staff of The Athletic stated that “Donovan is the pie-in-the-sky option here.”
It seems like Donovan’s future with the Bulls is assured. Prior to the 2018 season, he signed a contract extension, and on April 3, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times stated that the coach’s position is “100%” secure.
Naturally, that is presuming Donovan desires to go back.
Billy Donovan Admits Bulls Season Was a Letdown
He hasn’t indicated that he’s trying to find a way out. However, he has acknowledged the season’s failure as the Bulls are likely to finish at best.500.
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