Any truth to Donovan exit rumors?

torQQue · 03-23-2006, 03:30 PM

By KEVIN BROCKWAY
Sun sports writer

Quote: L ike many, Louisville coach Rick Pitino has heard the domino theory that has Kentucky coach Tubby Smith heading to the NBA and Florida coach Billy Donovan heading to Lexington as the savior of Big Blue Nation.
Only Pitino doesn't see his protege leaving Florida for Kentucky any time soon, even if the job opens up.
"He would never even consider it in a million years," Pitino said. "And, on top of it, he's got his entire team back. I hope he does (leave). I might take that job."
Speculation that has surrounded Donovan for the opening at Indiana and any potential opening at Kentucky at this point is merely that. Donovan, in his 10th year at Florida, reiterated last week at the NCAA Tournament regionals in Jacksonville that he's happy at the school and has no intentions of leaving.
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley refused to directly comment on speculation regarding other openings.
"Billy Donovan is a first-class coach," Foley said. "That's for you guys (the media) to talk about. Our focus is to try to go out and win a championship.
"People that throw that kind of stuff out there, it's kind of a disrespect to Florida because it treats us like a stepping-stone. Florida is a first-class university and Billy has built a first-class basketball program. We intend to keep him for a long time.{
Donovan is in the third year of a seven-year contract that pays an average salary of $1.7 million annually. Florida will make its third Sweet 16 appearance in 10 years under Donovan on Friday when the Gators face Georgetown in Minneapolis, Minn.
Donovan, 40, began his coaching career at Kentucky as a graduate assistant from 1989-1994. He played under Pitino in the Final Four at Providence in 1986, then guided Florida to a Final Four as a coach when the Gators reached the NCAA Finals in 2000.
This season, Florida is 29-6 with a team that starts four sophomores and a junior. Some projected Florida in the preseason as low as fifth in the SEC East and 70th nationally.
A source familiar with the Indiana coaching search revealed that Donovan's name was considered for the opening when Mike Davis resigned last month. But the Hoosiers appear to be leaning toward ex-player and current Iowa coach Steve Alford and Marquette coach Tom Crean.
"The head coach at Florida is not going to one of those schools," Pitino said. "When you're winning you're happy, you love your kids, you love the town, why would you even consider that? All it is, it's poor reporting and spreading rumors."
Donovan was rumored for past NBA openings in New York and Orlando and is a favorite of current Miami Heat coach and president Pat Riley.
Donovan has said in the past the NBA intrigues him because it's strictly basketball, but would be cautious in making the transition to the league with a poor team.
Ex-college coaches Lon Kruger (Atlanta Hawks), Leonard Hamilton (Washington Wizards) and John Calipari (New Jersey Nets) struggled in no-win situations in the NBA and eventually returned to coach in college.
Pitino returned to college to coach at Louisville after an unsuccessful 3-year stint with the Boston Celtics.
"If you said to me would Billy entertain the NBA someday and try it, Mike Krzyzewski interviewed with the Los Angeles Lakers, so anything's possible there," Pitino said. "But you don't leave the Louisvilles of the world or the Kentuckys of the world or the Floridas of the world for another college job. You just don't do that. They're lateral moves that make absolutely no sense at all."
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said Donovan is not in the running for the opening at Indiana and refused to speculate on Kentucky.
"I see Billy Donovan as a fixture at Florida for a long time," Vitale said. "It would take something very special for him to leave."

http://www.gatorsports.com/apps/pbcs.dll.../203230345

torQQue · 03-23-2006, 03:32 PM

I get a vibe that RP wants to come back to UK. If for some reason Tubby did go to the NBA next season. You think RP would be in discussion for replacing Tubby?

**alfus21** · 03-23-2006, 03:34 PM

I hadn't heard anything about this, but he would be crazy to leave Florida after this season with all those sophmores he has there...I'd say the reason they are keeping so quiet about this is because Florida is still playing...So maybe when their season is over we might be hearing some more to these rumors...

Oh yeah Yellow Snow...How do you like this?
Only Pitino doesn't see his protege leaving Florida for Kentucky any time soon, even if the job opens up.
"He would never even consider it in a million years," Pitino said.

**alfus21** · 03-23-2006, 03:36 PM

torQQue Wrote:I get a vibe that RP wants to come back to UK. If for some reason Tubby did go to the NBA next season. You think RP would be in discussion for replacing Tubby?

I don't think the UK Athletic Administration is that brave...It would get a lot of fans to jump back on the bandwagon, but it would be a huge risk/reward type kind of thing to try and make strike a nerve with a lot of UK fans...Too much drama would surround it to even try it imo...

Matney's Prodigey · 03-23-2006, 04:38 PM

I don't think Ricky P would ever come back to UK. It is hard to be a good guy (UK Coach), then a bad guy (UofL Coach). It is next to impossible to be a good guy, bad guy, and then a good guy again.
I can see however Billy the Kid coming to Lexington. I can see where RP is coming from in saying that Donavan is in a good spot at Flordia, but no matter what Billy does in Flordia he will always be playing second fiddle to the football team. He will always be the second most important coach on campus. If he was the UK basketball coach then he no matter what happened he would be numero uno. He will always be the big name and Billy being a Pitino Prodigy he can say what he wants, but he enjoys the spotlight.
Fact of the matter is tho right now we have a good coach and Tubby has made no notion of leaving so untill he does this is all just gossip.

UKGIRL20 · 03-23-2006, 04:43 PM

I also believe Pitino wants to be back at Kentucky but do I see it happening no

**CatDawg** · 03-23-2006, 07:43 PM

Lateral move to UK what ever I guess he forgot what he use to say about the history of the UK program.

bevinsville_bomber · 03-23-2006, 08:20 PM

Matney's Prodigey Wrote:I don't think Ricky P would ever come back to UK. It is hard to be a good guy (UK Coach), then a bad guy (UofL Coach). It is next to impossible to be a good guy, bad guy, and then a good guy again.
I can see however Billy the Kid coming to Lexington. I can see where RP is coming from in saying that Donavan is in a good spot at Flordia, but no matter what Billy does in Flordia he will always be playing second fiddle to the football team. He will always be the second most important coach on campus. If he was the UK basketball coach then he no matter what happened he would be numero uno. He will always be the big name and Billy being a Pitino Prodigy he can say what he wants, but he enjoys the spotlight.
Fact of the matter is tho right now we have a good coach and Tubby has made no notion of leaving so untill he does this is all just gossip.

I agree, good post.

**Amun-Ra** · 03-23-2006, 08:27 PM

RP has wanted to be back 2 years after he left. thats no surprise.....

**Playboy5** · 03-23-2006, 11:58 PM

Would Love To See It!

YeGymnasium · 03-24-2006, 03:02 AM

Can't see Billy D leaving Florida at this time ( although if UK job does become open...could get interesting) If Tubby leaves, I don't believe it will be next year. ( Needs to prove to himself that He can rebound from a down year ) But then again He may be disgusted of the whole mess at UK (that he created) with questionable recruiting practices. Things could get very interesting in the off season. :argue:

**Billnz28** · 03-25-2006, 01:50 PM

he wont leave fl

**BelfryJustice** · 03-25-2006, 05:33 PM

I would love to see him at UK. I feel as if Tubby will be in Kentucky another year and then anything can happen.

:ChairHit: