Billy Donovan to Kentucky?

JoseA · 03-28-2007, 04:28 PM

If you were Billy Donovan would you take the Kentucky job?

I know I wouldn't because he is building a powerhouse at Florida. Why go to a school like Kentucky with so much pressure? Plus Kentucky hasn't been as good lately and Donovan may need time to turn it around.

Kentucky is darn smart to pursue him though...he used to be an asst. coach there

BravesRule22 · 03-28-2007, 05:00 PM

There is no way I leave FLA as it is for Kentucky

Donovan wants to be an NBA coach 1 day, mark it down. And he can leave FLA for the NBA but it makes no sense to jump to Kentucky if you plan on going to the NBA.

Plus he has it made in FLA, they are a football school and the fans are happy as long as they are in the tourney. I dont think he wants to leave for Kentucky where all the people there want a ring every single year.

I dont see anyway this happens

JoseA · 03-28-2007, 05:04 PM

I agree, I wouldn't leave FLA for Kentucky, but I think Donovan will for the following reasons :

1. Used to be asst. coach at Kentucky
2. Rich basketball tradition (6 titles)
3. Why wouldn't he just deny rumor flat out, after all FLA is in running for the title
4. Not a Southern guy
5. Once again didn't rule it out!

BravesRule22 · 03-30-2007, 11:07 AM

He hasnt even a adressed it, he doesnt want to talk about it or even acknowledge it because hes team is in the Final 4.

I think him taking the time out to even mention Kentucky could be taken the wrong way by his team.

There is no reason to focus on anything BUT the Final 4 and UCLA right now.

BravesRule22 · 03-30-2007, 03:18 PM

Kentucky has offered Donovan a long term contract worth 4 mil a year ( Biggest in NCAA bball history )

Per ESPN

JoseA · 03-30-2007, 03:57 PM

Wow, what a deal.....All in the midst of having his team in the Final Four! I bet Florida ain't to happy with Kentucky for trying to lure him away!

Personally I think it shows that a program has low class to stoop as low as to offer a coach a major contract before the "big game". It shows disrespect at least to publically anounce it to the other university. Behind closed doors is fine though, but you know nothing ever happens that way. I believe the coaching carasol has a big effect on player performances, but that is my opinion.

BravesRule22 · 03-30-2007, 04:18 PM

Its a 7 year deal, 4 mil per

He currently has 3 years left on his FLA deal @ 1.8 mil per year

He is going to get paid one way or the other, just a question of will FLA step up and give him a raise or not ?

Timberwolf · 03-31-2007, 07:54 PM

If Donovan were a Kentucky alum with lots of family in the bluegrass state, it would make some sense. Leaving HIS program where he has won a national championship and has a shot at another is a real risky move. If he hasn't been treated right or his family doesn't like living there, that's a different story.

Nobody looks good at Kentucky compared to Adolph Rupp. Since the bottom half of the SEC is so much stronger than it was in Rupp's day and Louisville isn't going away, that job isn't nearly as attractive as it used to be.

dlb · 04-01-2007, 03:40 PM

Donovan would be crazy to go. He has it made at FL, why should he care about KY?

JoseA · 04-01-2007, 03:43 PM

How about because it's over 2 times his current salary!

Florida better offer him more money if they want to convince him to stay...Donovan is a great coach and he really turned that Gators program around in his time there.

dlb · 04-01-2007, 09:16 PM

I think it's beyond doubt that Donovan is the best coach in college basketball today. I don't know what KY's current personnel and incoming recruits are like, but unless the cupboard is full, it will take even Donovan 3 - 5 years to get KY above the level Tubby Smith had the program.

FL should give him a raise, unless they're just tired of being successful in basketball. This leaves Donovan with some choices:
1. Stay at FL and become a legend;
2. Go to KY (or some other traditional b-ball power) and be just another great coach (a la John Calipari);
3. Go to the NBA, fail (Larry Brown is the only coach I can think of who has succeeded at both levels), then go to some other college and be just another great coach (a la Rick Pitino).

If Donovan stays at FL, I think he has the ability to become a greater figure in college basketball than Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Dean Smith - second only to John Wooden (I don't think anyone will ever match Wooden's success). If he thinks he already has enough money, that's a level of achievement that can't be bought at any price.

BravesRule22 · 04-05-2007, 12:38 PM

Donovan has called a PC for 4 o'clock to announce that he is STAYING at Florida

03-28-2007, 04:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	Billy Donovan to Kentucky? If you were Billy Donovan would you take the Kentucky job? I know I wouldn't because he is building a powerhouse at Florida. Why go to a school like Kentucky with so much pressure? Plus Kentucky hasn't been as good lately and Donovan may need time to turn it around. Kentucky is darn smart to pursue him though...he used to be an asst. coach there __________________ Register here and join the discussion

03-28-2007, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	There is no way I leave FLA as it is for Kentucky Donovan wants to be an NBA coach 1 day, mark it down. And he can leave FLA for the NBA but it makes no sense to jump to Kentucky if you plan on going to the NBA. Plus he has it made in FLA, they are a football school and the fans are happy as long as they are in the tourney. I dont think he wants to leave for Kentucky where all the people there want a ring every single year. I dont see anyway this happens __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

03-28-2007, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	I agree, I wouldn't leave FLA for Kentucky, but I think Donovan will for the following reasons : 1. Used to be asst. coach at Kentucky 2. Rich basketball tradition (6 titles) 3. Why wouldn't he just deny rumor flat out, after all FLA is in running for the title 4. Not a Southern guy 5. Once again didn't rule it out! __________________ Register here and join the discussion

03-30-2007, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	He hasnt even a adressed it, he doesnt want to talk about it or even acknowledge it because hes team is in the Final 4. I think him taking the time out to even mention Kentucky could be taken the wrong way by his team. There is no reason to focus on anything BUT the Final 4 and UCLA right now. __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

03-30-2007, 03:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Kentucky has offered Donovan a long term contract worth 4 mil a year ( Biggest in NCAA bball history ) Per ESPN __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

03-30-2007, 03:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	Wow, what a deal.....All in the midst of having his team in the Final Four! I bet Florida ain't to happy with Kentucky for trying to lure him away! Personally I think it shows that a program has low class to stoop as low as to offer a coach a major contract before the "big game". It shows disrespect at least to publically anounce it to the other university. Behind closed doors is fine though, but you know nothing ever happens that way. I believe the coaching carasol has a big effect on player performances, but that is my opinion. __________________ Register here and join the discussion

03-30-2007, 04:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Its a 7 year deal, 4 mil per He currently has 3 years left on his FLA deal @ 1.8 mil per year He is going to get paid one way or the other, just a question of will FLA step up and give him a raise or not ? __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville

03-31-2007, 07:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Timberwolf Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,767	If Donovan were a Kentucky alum with lots of family in the bluegrass state, it would make some sense. Leaving HIS program where he has won a national championship and has a shot at another is a real risky move. If he hasn't been treated right or his family doesn't like living there, that's a different story. Nobody looks good at Kentucky compared to Adolph Rupp. Since the bottom half of the SEC is so much stronger than it was in Rupp's day and Louisville isn't going away, that job isn't nearly as attractive as it used to be.

04-01-2007, 03:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
dlb Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,120	Donovan would be crazy to go. He has it made at FL, why should he care about KY?

04-01-2007, 03:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	How about because it's over 2 times his current salary! Florida better offer him more money if they want to convince him to stay...Donovan is a great coach and he really turned that Gators program around in his time there. __________________ Register here and join the discussion

04-01-2007, 09:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
dlb Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,120	I think it's beyond doubt that Donovan is the best coach in college basketball today. I don't know what KY's current personnel and incoming recruits are like, but unless the cupboard is full, it will take even Donovan 3 - 5 years to get KY above the level Tubby Smith had the program. FL should give him a raise, unless they're just tired of being successful in basketball. This leaves Donovan with some choices: 1. Stay at FL and become a legend; 2. Go to KY (or some other traditional b-ball power) and be just another great coach (a la John Calipari); 3. Go to the NBA, fail (Larry Brown is the only coach I can think of who has succeeded at both levels), then go to some other college and be just another great coach (a la Rick Pitino). If Donovan stays at FL, I think he has the ability to become a greater figure in college basketball than Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Dean Smith - second only to John Wooden (I don't think anyone will ever match Wooden's success). If he thinks he already has enough money, that's a level of achievement that can't be bought at any price.

04-05-2007, 12:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Donovan has called a PC for 4 o'clock to announce that he is STAYING at Florida __________________ Braves, Knicks, Bucs, Louisville