Billy Donovan to Return to Florida

No second thoughts on the NBA jump, right Billy? Not so much. Maybe he was worried about the job security, the hours, the pressure, and other potential pitfalls of the NBA. Maybe he realized how great he had it at the University of Florida. No matter which way you slice it, Donovan will be getting the chance to rebuild his Florida program.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando Magic will allow Billy Donovan out of his contract to return to Florida.

"It's over," said a source close to the situation.

Donovan had reservations about leaving the Florida Gators for the NBA on Friday and spent all weekend trying to find a way to get out of his contract. On Saturday, Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith went to Gainesville to try to convince Donovan to honor the deal. Smith talked with Donovan again on Sunday, and so did Magic President Bob Vander Weide.

Unless Donovan wakes up today and changes his mind, the Magic will let him go, the source said.

The Magic released this official statement regarding the Donovan situation.

While Central Florida, the Orlando Magic and Billy were energized with the announcement of his contract signing on Friday, we know there was a different feeling in Gainesville and people have been tugging at him since that time.

Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the NBA.

We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue

In the end, going back to Florida is the best move. I was predicting he would be out of Orlando in a season and a half (tops) anyways.

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Billy Donovan Leaves Gators to Coach Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic now have a new man on the sidelines with the hiring of Florida's Billy Donovan. Donovan, who replaces the twice-fired Brian Hill, is expected to make drastic changes to right the Magic ship. The Magic and General Manager Otis Smith felt Hill lacked the attributes the team needed in their coach, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith fired Brian Hill as coach on (May 23) because he didn't believe Hill would get the most out of the team with his style and strategy if he returned.

Some of the issues in deciding Hill's fate, according to those close to the situation, were Hill's inability to adjust during the Magic's midseason slump; his lack of offensive imagination; and whether he was developing young players Dwight Howard, Darko Milicic, Jameer Nelson, Trevor Ariza and rookie J.J. Redick to their potential.

Donovan will be expected to improve on those deficiencies.

Still, the move leaves many wondering why Donovan would leave Florida after winning two straight championships. Dan Shanoff, through Deadspin, wonders the same.

What, exactly, is the lure of coaching in the NBA? On its face, it sounds like the shittiest job in sports.

Zero job security, with a "when" not "if" inevitability of a bad ending to nearly every coaching hire. (Welcome to Indiana, Jim O'Brien!) Star players who run the team. Financial realities that hamstring moves.

Roughest of all, the "Ring or Bust" mentality. Jerry Sloan is the ideal of NBA coaching longevity, yet he is best known for NOT winning a championship. And most of the coaches who have won a title recently (Jackson, Tomjanovich, Popovich) have enjoyed coaching the greatest players of their eras. Dwight Howard is the best post player in the East -- not a bad foundation to build a contender -- and they have double-digit cap millions to use (please God: NOT Vince Carter...hmm: Gerald Wallace?) But yeesh, those odds are still ugly.

Meanwhile, Billy D was on track to be one of the Top 5 most successful coaches in college hoops history. His style seemed MADE for college. (His weakness - Xs and Os - will be magnified in the NBA, while his strength - personality - will be mitigated.)

Donovan, much like Rick Pitino, will come to regret leaving a great situation like Florida. The money ($27.5 million over 5 years), though better in the short term, will not be there for decades like it would be had he stayed at Florida.

I guess college coaches will always want to take on the next challenge, professional sports.

To me, rebuilding Florida would have been quite the challenge for Billy Donovan.

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