William John Donovan Jr., nicknamed "Billy the Kid" by Providence fans during his junior year in college, is an American professional coach. As of November 2024, he is the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, appointed on September 22, 2020. Donovan attended Providence College and played for the Providence Friars men's basketball team from 1983 to 1987. He concluded his collegiate career by averaging over 20 points and 7 assists per game during his senior season. He led his college team to the 1987 Final Four and earned the Southeast Regional Most Valuable Player title. Additionally, he was named to the First-team All-Big East in 1987 and the Third-team All-Big East in 1986. According to the official NBA website, he was inducted into the Providence College Hall of Fame in 1999.
Before joining the New York Knicks in 1987, Donovan played for the Wyoming Wildcatters in the Continental Basketball Association. He was selected by the Utah Jazz in the third round of the 1987 NBA Draft as the 68th overall pick but was traded to the Knicks that year before the regular season began. Donovan later returned to the Continental Basketball Association and played for the Rapid City Thrillers, a semi-professional basketball team, after failing to make the 1988-1989 preseason. He ended his playing career in January 1989.
What teams has Billy Donovan coached?
Billy Donovan began his coaching career in 1989, following a brief stint with a Wall Street investment banking firm.
College
Kentucky (1989 – 1994)
Billy Donovan started as a graduate assistant of the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team in 1989. After a season, he was promoted to assistant coach in 1990 and then to associate head coach in 1992, serving as Rick Pitino's top assistant during Kentucky's 1993 Final Four run.
Marshall University (1994 – 1996)
Billy Donovan took his first head coaching with the Marshall University in 1994, leading the Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team. At the time, he was 28 years old, making him the youngest head basketball coach in NCAA Division I. The Thundering Herd won the 1994-1995 Southern Conference North Division title with an 18–9 record, and Donovan was named the 1995 Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
University of Florida (1996 – 2015)
Billy Donovan joined the University of Florida as head coach of the Florida Gators men's basketball team in 1996. According to the college's coach profile, Donovan transformed the Gators into a perennial national power and under his guidance, the once unattainable goals of the program had become a reality. He became only the second coach in college basketball history to achieve his 500th Division I victory on February 28, 2015. Under Donovan's leadership, the Gators made their third NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1999 and became the second squad in school history to appear in the final top 25 polls. The team earned the number one overall seed in the 2007 NCAA tournament. He was named the 2011 SEC Coach of the Year and was awarded the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in 2010.
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder (2015 – 2020)
Billy Donovan made his NBA debut as head coach in 2015 for the Oklahoma City Thunder, signing a five-year contract worth nearly $30 million on April 30, 2015. During his five seasons with the Thunder, Donovan achieved a 243-157 record, reaching the postseason every year but advancing beyond the first round only once.
Chicago Bulls (2020 - as of November 2024)
The Chicago Bulls appointed Billy Donovan as head coach on September 22, 2020, with a four-year contract, worth $24 million plus. According to Spotrac, he signed a contract extension on November 29, 2022. Donovan earned his first win as the Bulls,' head coach with a 115 - 107 victory over the Washington Wizards on December 29, 2020. As of November 11, 2024, the Bulls hold a 4-6 record, placing them in seventh position.
National Team
Billy Donovan has coached the USA men's basketball team as their head coach at the 2012 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup (earlier known as the FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship) in Brazil, the the 2014 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup in United States, and the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Czech Republic, winning gold medals in all three events.
FAQs on Billy Donovan
A. As of november 2024, Billy Donovan is 59 years old.
A. Christine Hasbrouck is the wife of Billy Donovan.
A. As of November 2024, Billy Donovan has four children.
A. Billy Donovan stands 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall.
A. Billy Donovan was born on May 30, 1965, in Rockville Centre, New York, United States.
