Billy Donovan speaks on future amid North Carolina speculation
Published:
When the head-coaching job at North Carolina opened Tuesday night with the departure of Hubert Davis, the rumor mill began to spin in earnest.
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has been suggested as a potential target for the Tar Heels’ head brass, but the two-time national champion refuses to direct any public attention towards the open gig.
As The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported, Donovan spoke about the North Carolina job prior to the Bulls’ matchup with the 76ers on Wednesday night, and he largely shrugged off the rumors.
My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” Donovan said before the Bulls faced the Philadelphia 76ers. “I understand that there’s stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But, I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago and having a game tonight, and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back.
Donovan went on to reveal that he’s had plenty of collegiate contacts come calling in recent years while also delving into how the state of the college game has changed.
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of college guys reach out to talk to me,” Donovan said. “It’s different in dealing with players who are being paid now. I also think the cycle of the NBA today is totally different than the cycle of college. I’m focused on what I have to do right now. Like anything else, things are always changing in the game of basketball.
Donovan is amidst his sixth season in Chicago, but he only has one playoff appearance to show for in his time with the Bulls.
Playoff appearances weren’t a struggle for him in Oklahoma City however, as Donovan led the Thunder to postseason trips in all 5 of his seasons at the helm. But, he only managed to advance past the first round during his rookie campaign (2015-2016).
Of course, Donovan is perhaps best-known for his stint as head coach at Florida, a 19-year reign that saw him secure back-to-back national titles and win a whopping 467 games.
Who will be the next Carolina head coach? Predict it on Kalshi!
Parker is currently the sports editor for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
