Billy Donovan

William John Donovan Jr., born on May 30, 1965, in Rockville Centre, New York, is a distinguished American basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Donovan's coaching career is marked by his tenure at the University of Florida, where he led the Gators to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, alongside an NCAA championship appearance in 2000.

Donovan's basketball journey began at St. Agnes Cathedral High School, followed by a standout collegiate career at Providence College, where he was the starting point guard. His leadership helped the Friars reach the 1987 Final Four, making him one of the few individuals to both play in and coach a team to the NCAA Final Four and national championship.

After a brief professional playing career split between the Continental Basketball Association and the NBA's New York Knicks, Donovan transitioned into coaching. He started as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky under Rick Pitino before taking the head coaching position at Marshall University. His success at Marshall led to his hiring at Florida, where he transformed the program into a powerhouse, achieving a remarkable streak of sixteen consecutive twenty-win seasons.

In June 2007, after securing his second national title, Donovan briefly accepted a position with the Orlando Magic but ultimately returned to Florida. His NBA journey resumed in April 2015 when he became the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading the team to multiple playoff appearances. After a successful stint, he joined the Chicago Bulls in September 2020, continuing to make his mark in professional basketball.