[Beef]

Billy Donovan, three days removed from leading Florida to a second consecutive national championship, will announce later Thursday that he will remain the Gators' coach and not make himself available to interview for the opening at SEC rival Kentucky.


Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Donovan met Thursday morning with Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley in Gainesville, Fla. The decision was made at that time that Donovan would stay on as coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2826756

[Batpuff]

Billy Donovan, three days removed from leading Florida to a second consecutive national championship, will announce later Thursday that he will remain the Gators' coach and not make himself available to interview for the opening at SEC rival Kentucky.
Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Donovan met Thursday morning with Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley in Gainesville, Fla. The decision was made at that time that Donovan would stay on as coach.
Donovan was the top choice of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart to replace Tubby Smith, who left the program in March to coach Minnesota.

[Batpuff]

So much for taking time to think about it.

[Tubby Hater]

I read that too, Dicky V probably wrote that. lol

[Batpuff]

I would say it is time for plan b who ever that may be.

[CatDawg]

At least we finally know something.

[baseballfan]

is that official that he will stay at flordia

[BCF4L]

Not officially. Maybe he will be like Creightons coach and decide he would rather come to UK. Maybe ESPN has the wrong report. Maybe.......nah plan B sounds good now.

[OffTheHook]

I won't believe it till Billy says it.

[DevilsWin]

I won't believe it till Billy says it.

Me either.

[Batpuff]

Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving Florida. Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan also met Thursday.
In recounting that meeting, "He said, 'This my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [wife] Christine and I'm not going anywhere."
Donovan and Foley will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan will leave the country Saturday.
"Obviously we've been talking," Foley said. Donovan has two years remaining on his contract. "Friday is about the celebration [for the title] and then he's [vacationing]. This is where he wants to be."
Barnhart left a message for Foley on Wednesday seeking permission to talk to Donovan, but Foley did not want a Donovan-Barnhart conversation to occur until speaking with Donovan himself.
The Wildcats will now move on in their search to find Tubby Smith's replacement. Their search likely will start with Texas' Rick Barnes and possibly include Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Gonzaga's Mark Few. If Barnes and Izzo are not interested, it's not expected to get past the other three if offered.
Meanwhile, the four Florida juniors -- Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green -- may make their announcements that they're leaving school to enter the NBA draft either later Thursday or Friday prior to Florida's on-campus celebration of winning the national title.
Information from ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach was used in this report.

[jammin' jamey]

Two more Florida recruits have said they have reason to think Billy Donovan will remain Florida’s basketball coach rather than accept an offer to become Kentucky’s coach.

Chandler Parsons of Lake Howell, Fla., told the Orlando Sentinel that Donovan had sent him a text message before the Final Four.

“He can’t wait to coach me as a Gator,” Parsons told the newspaper in a story published Thursday.

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/34961.html

[jammin' jamey]

So I guess I'll be first in line to eat my crow from "I told you so" TomSportsHack.

[BlackcatAlum]

I won't believe it till Billy says it.

Same here.

[Tubby Hater]

Gosh I hope we dont get Rick Barnes, he is like Dale Brown, he can recruit and have the best talent in the country but still cant win.

[jammin' jamey]

I really hate Andy Katz. He's now up there with Billy Packer for me.

[jammin' jamey]

From the AP...

Coach Billy Donovan will stay at Florida, spurning a chance to return to Kentucky and take over the tradition-rich program, a person familiar with Donovan's decision said Thursday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had yet to be announced.

Donovan, who met with Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley earlier Thursday, planned to announce his decision at a 4 p.m. news conference.

Donovan acknowledged interest in the Kentucky job this week, but also said he intended to stay in Gainesville and continue building the program that won consecutive national championships.

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stor...07aah.html

[jammin' jamey]

I won't believe it till Billy says it.

He's saying it today at 4pm during a news conference from Gainesville.

[-STAT-]

Damn

[ComfortEagle]

...and Kentucky Basketball just got set back another 5 years.

[baseballfan]

He's saying it today at 4pm during a news conference from Gainesville.

Is it going to be on tv

[BlackcatAlum]

Is it going to be on tv

4pm; ESPNEWS.

[-STAT-]

This is a sad day in the Bluegrass.

[mrfootball03]

I told you guys I didn't think he was coming..

Do you really think a guy that just one back to back championships will leave?.. no

UK has really great history.. but right now.. the program is hurting..

As I already said, he just danced around answering the question for leverage for more money.. He has told his recruits all along hes not going anywhere..

[rallo316]

i am with you.

[mrfootball03]

Also, I think this is why he would have told John Pelphrey to not take any coaching jobs right away.. He knew UK would wait on his decision, and he knew he wasn't going.. and he wanted John to still have a chance at the job..


and also.. what happened to... "this deal has been done for a week".. supposedly said by Kyle Macy lol

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

anyone have a plan B b/c i would say Barnhardt is saying shi* shit* fire tha missales on Gainsville!

[alfus21]

I was wrong. Bring on Gillispie.

[DevilsWin]

Donovan not coming- I'm ok with that.

But what I am not OK with is the list of replacements! How far did those guys get their teams in the NCAA this year? They Suck! IZZO is the only guy with half a resume. But I hate his style of play.

Alot of people think I'm dreaming and I probably am but if Barnhart wants "The Right Man For The Job" he'll drop to his knees and beg Mike D'Antoni to take the job and offer him 5 million a year.
UK should never have to settle for 2nd best. That is what Tubby has done to this program. Lowered the expectations so low that the BIG BLUE NATION may never recover.

[jammin' jamey]

I like this quote...

"I never wanted this to be a bidding war with Kentucky and Florida, Donovan said. "You can't buy happiness and the school [Florida] has always taken care of me."

If you take Donovan at his word, you must believe this too - "The job was never offered to me."