Goodman: Donovan Will Accept OKC Job if Offered

[GOCAT15]

This move, if it happens, will hurt the SEC. Until the SEC Universities hire and hold onto quality BB Coaches, the conference will remain a weak sister to other power conferences.

I agree and have mentioned this before, Donovan put Florida on the map and made them a yearly contender in the SEC. Just don't see anywhere out there they can come in and keep his train rolling. For him to succeed at a football school like that is pretty impressive.

[Matt Dillon]

This move, if it happens, will hurt the SEC. Until the SEC Universities hire and hold onto quality BB Coaches, the conference will remain a weak sister to other power conferences.

I agree, Lighthouse. I'd like to see the SEC more on par with the ACC.

[KevinHall]

Donovan has been at Florida for 20 years. That's a long time for anybody to be at one school. That doesn't happen very often now. Whoever replaces him will have a big and tough job to keep Florida relevant in college basketball.

[Vinnie]

I sure was wrong because I thought Donovan was a fixture in Gainsville. I guess I was wrong after all. I have no idea who Florida can come up with at this late date. Recruiting is already well under way and will be jepordized by a long time coach's departure.

[TrueblueCATfan]

WOW..never thought Billy D would leave Florida...wonder who will replace thim

[Joneslab]

Donovan and OKC have agreed to terms.

[Joneslab]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 5m5 minutes ago Gainesville, FL Possible candidates to replace Donovan -- Dayton coach Archie Miller, Xavier coach Richard Mack, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino.

[KevinHall]

Archie Miller might be a really good one. I vote for Little Ricky. He's not really done much where he has been before. Florida would go downhill,IMO with him at at the helm.

[KevinHall]

I really wonder how Durrant and Westbrook will accept Donovan, not to mention other OKC players? NBA players in the past have had a tendacy to freeze out college coaches with no NBA experience. If things don't start out well there next season it may be a short trip for Donovan.

[BobS]

Glad for Billy D. I predict he coaches in the NBA for a few years and then returns to college and coaches in a conference that actually gives a rat's butt about basketball.

[Joneslab]

Seems like Billy Donovan has been around forever.

He took the Marshall job when I was in high school.

[KevinHall]

^ He was at Florida for nearly 20 years. Marshall was his first HC job. Pitino scheduled them while Donovan was there and UK beat them up pretty good IIRC. Donavan is darn fine coach. I'm like Bob I think he will be back in the colleges before he hangs it up for good.

[J.Jennings]

Easy to say this now, but I wanted Donovan prior to Tubby but understand why UK had to go with the more seasoned Tubby at that point in time. Who knows, eventually Cal will leave Kentucky and hard to say if Donovan will have any success at OKC. If the stars align and at some point there is a mutual interest, wouldn't hurt for Billy to have actual NBA experience coming back to college playing the recruiting war that goes on amongst the coaches.

If Cal does leave, my short list of coaches has to be Donovan, B. Stephens, or S. Miller. I like Miller but honestly, he's underachieved at Arizona in my opinion........

[Wonderstruck]

Easy to say this now, but I wanted Donovan prior to Tubby but understand why UK had to go with the more seasoned Tubby at that point in time. Who knows, eventually Cal will leave Kentucky and hard to say if Donovan will have any success at OKC. If the stars align and at some point there is a mutual interest, wouldn't hurt for Billy to have actual NBA experience coming back to college playing the recruiting war that goes on amongst the coaches.

If Cal does leave, my short list of coaches has to be Donovan, B. Stephens, or S. Miller. I like Miller but honestly, he's underachieved at Arizona in my opinion........

I'm going to agree with you...here's my thing on Billy D. He wasn't going to leave Florida for Kentucky. But I could see a scenario play out where he's not as successful at OKC and comes back to college. But as you say, the stars have to align. It would have to be a perfect storm.

[JFCats22]

Ian O'Connor ‏@Ian_OConnor
Billy Donovan told a friend he consulted with this week that a losing SEC recruiting struggle with Kentucky was wearing on him