Former Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan reportedly agreed to become the San Antonio Spurs’ lead assistant coach, according to ESPN.
The 61-year-old Gators legend stepped down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls this offseason to allow the franchise to move in a different direction after sweeping changes in the front office. The Bulls brass stated that they wanted the longtime coach to remain in Chicago, but Donovan instead declined his contract option for next season.
“After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold,” Donovan said in a statement released by the team. “I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit.”
Over the course of his six-year tenure in the Windy City, he amassed a disappointing 226-256 record — including a 31-51 finish to the 2025-26 campaign — and missed the playoffs the last four seasons.
Donovan was in the mix to take over the North Carolina Tar Heels program before they decided on Michael Malone, and was also a finalist for the Orlando Magic’s head coach job opening — the latter of which resurrected memories of 2007, when he briefly accepted that position before returning to Florida.
Elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2025, Donovan compiled a 467-186 record in Gainesville over 19 seasons, making nine postseason trips, including a national runner-up finish in 2000 and back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. He also coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons from 2015-2020, putting up a 400-243 record and winning the NBCA Coach of the Year Award after his final campaign in OKC.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Billy Donovan accepts assistant coach job with San Antonio Spurs
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