Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan is a 'lock' to become new coach of the Orlando Magic, a source close to the situation tells CBS SportsLine.com's Gary Parrish.
Wow. Money talks.....
With the talent they have no worries.
Hard to believe he would leave college ball for the NBA ???
Billy Donovan expected to become Orlando Magic's next coach
Brian Schmitz and Tim Povtak
Orlando Sentinel Staff Writers
Billy Donovan is expected to become the next coach of the Orlando Magic after he was presented with a substantial contract offer, officials with the NBA team told the Orlando Sentinel.
Donovan, 42, is coming off back-to-back NCAA titles with the Florida Gators. He was in the midst of negotiations for a contract extension at Florida when the offer arrived.
Donovan would be replacing Brian Hill, who was fired last week after back-to-back losing seasons. Two league sources had told the Sentinel on Tuesday that the Magic had been in contact with Donovan's agent, Lonnie Cooper. When asked about the job Wednesday, though, Donovan said he had not spoken with the Magic.
The University of Florida had been making plans to announce Donovan's contract extension next week. On Wednesday night, though, the Magic made a firm offer to Donovan.
Donovan would become the eighth head coach of the franchise.
The Gators beat Ohio State this spring in the national championship game for their second title in a row, but he was losing his top six players.
Donovan repeatedly has said that the NBA "intrigued him,'' but also said he was happy with the college game. Donovan has no NBA coaching experience, but he played briefly with the New York Knicks for coach Rick Pitino.
Before coming to the Gators, he was the head coach at Marshall University.
Donovan heads to the Magic Kingdom
May 31st, 2007
Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic named Billy Donovan their new head coach on Thursday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed but the Orlando Sentinel reported that the contract could be worth over $30 million.
"Billy Donovan is a winner," Magic general manager Otis Smith said. "We feel he is the right person to develop and maximize the talents of our players. We look forward to Billy leading us to the next level."
The 42-year old former Florida coach has been a hot commodity in coaching circles since cutting down the nets for the second straight year in the NCAA tourney, the first repeat champs since Duke in 1991-92.
Donovan, who had a brief playing career in the NBA in 1987 and 1988 with the New York Knicks, will leave Florida as the school's all-time winningest coach. He compiled a 296-123 mark in 12 years as a collegiate coach, the first two spent at Marshall University. After two losing seasons to start his stint with the Gators, Donovan has led Florida to nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a loss in the 2000 national championship game before his back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007.
Donovan also became one of only three people, along with Dean Smith and Bobby Knight, to play in the NCAA Final Four and win the national title as a head coach.
Donovan becomes the eighth head coach in Magic history, replacing Brian Hill. The Magic fired Brian Hill on May 23 after two consecutive losing seasons, and a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs this season.