UPDATED 3:45PM My Fox 35 in Orlando is now reporting that Donovan is about to step down from the Florida Gators job to accept the University of Kentucky job.
UPDATED 4:43PM Florida spokesperson Fred Demarest is denying any coaching change.
UPDATED 5:04 PM Billy Donovan issues statement (Gator Sports):
“In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other
jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to
the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our
program here.”
UPDATED 6:20PM : USA Today has quote from Demarest
Original story: That’s the rumor that we are hearing. The rumor floating around is that Kentucky will replace head coach Billy Gillispie with former Rick Pitino player and assistant and current Florida Gators head coach, Billy Donovan. There has been no official statement released by the university of Gillispie’s dismissal, but sources say otherwise. UPDATED Gillespie has been relieved of coaching duties.
We’re hearing that Kentucky wants a quick answer from Billy Donovan if he is he offered the job. The Orlando Magic did a similar proposition in the summer of 2007, and it led Donovan to back out of an agreement.
The other rumor floating around is that VCU head coach Anthony Grant will be hired as a replacement for Donovan at Florida. Alabama has also shown interest in Grant.
Other candidates for Kentucky job (the UK wishlist): Tom Izzo, Travis Ford, and Jamie Dixon.
Stay tuned for more updates.
UPDATED: Orlando Sentinel reporting Donovan might be headed to Lexington. They tracked a plane too!
Birmingham News is speculating similar rumors.
Popularity: 21% [?]
wouldn’t it make sense for mizzou’s mike anderson?
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Is Kentucky really a step up from Florida? Old timers would say yes but I’m skeptical. I’d stay put if I were Donovan.
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Anthony Grant is actually holding out of taking the Bama job to see what happens with Donovan.
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I read on a blog somewhere yesterday that a real estate agent representing the Calipari family has been viewing houses in Lexington since Sunday
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At Florida, Donovan is a program maker and would be beloved forever if he stayed. If he went to Kentucky he’s just another in a long line of coaches there and then he looks like a money-grubbing, sell your soul Nick Saban type. You can win national championships at either Florida or Kentucky. I don’t see the upside to him leaving Florida.
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Calipari to Kentucky = death penalty for Kentucky? We can only hope.
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I will say this. I would be crushed to see Billy leave. What he’s done for the university as a whole (not just in a basketball capacity) is amazing. Florida had a miracle Final Four run in 1994, but never had more than a few spurts of success before he stepped on campus.
Billy Donovan’s impact at the University of Florida as a coach for an athletic program was just as big as Steve Spurrier’s (as a coach). I hope this doesn’t happen.
That being said. If Billy were to jet, Florida would be getting a great coach and great recruiter in Anthony Grant. No dount the team will drop a bit, but Grant is no slouch.
Still I’d HATE to see Donovan leave. It would be devastating.
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Is it 2007 again?
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Can you give the death penalty to a program that is already dead?
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Kentucky should have received it when Sutton was there.
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I can’t see Donovan going to Kentucky.
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How is Donovan selling his soul or money-grubbing? He got his start at UK with Pitino, it makes sense for him to return to where he got his knowledge.
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“If he went to Kentucky he’s just another in a long line of coaches there…”
A long line of coaches? Kentucky, since Rupp retired, has had five coaches, two of those coming in the past two seasons. You might want to try your hand at that assessment again. As for the upside, try coaching at school that doesn’t consider your sport secondary to Tim Tebow.
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“Kentucky should have received it when Sutton was there.”
So sending 5 grand to a parent of a recruit — the ONLY thing they were found guilty of — is a death penalty offense? Especially after the guilty staff is completely removed? Sounds like the dislike for a program is superseding logic.
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Chris,
I think his point was Billy D is/was Florida basketball.
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I understand that, GT, but Florida is a “football school” much like Kentucky is a “basketball school.”
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Chris- agree. Florida is a football school first. Even with the back2backs i don’t think one can consider them a Top 5 basketball program. Had they not been on the cusp of greatness a couple years ago, he would have left Florida then.
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Agreed Sparty.
And I agree Chris, I made my comments about it in the Happy Hour section. It would suck to see him go, and I’ll be upset, but I don’t really blame him if you look at it objectively.
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Gator, if you guys get Grant you will be in good shape, he is a very good coach and recruiter. As a Mason alum I will not miss him at all, this will significantly weaken VCU.
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“In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other
jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to
the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our
program here.”
Not going.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Leave Billy, please leave.
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You guys are all over Donovan Watch ‘09.
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cgb-it was a slow day otherwise. looks like he is staying in gainesville.
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@sparty
Yeah it was. Even before all of this came out I figured he would just stay in Gainsville.
1) He’s a God
2) Foley will match salary offers
3) He has a get out of jail free card for 5+ years
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