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Billy Donovan, nicknamed Billy the Kid, is a basketball coach and former player. He played for the NBA's New York Knicks in the late 1980s before embarking on a coaching career that saw him lead the Florida Gators to great success, including 16 straight 20-win seasons and two national championships. Donovan also coached the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. Another notable basketballer with the name Donovan is Donovan Williams, who has played for several teams, including the Westchester Knicks and the Shanghai Sharks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William John Donovan |
| Nickname | Billy the Kid |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1965 |
| Place of Birth | Rockville Centre, New York |
| High School | St. Agnes in Rockville Centre, New York |
| College | Providence |
| NBA Debut | December 12, 1987 |
| NBA Draft | 3rd round (22nd pick, 68th overall), 1987 |
| Teams Played | Utah Jazz, New York Knicks |
| Coaching Career | University of Kentucky, Marshall University, University of Florida, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Awards | Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (2006), Legends of Coaching Award (2010), SEC Coach of the Year (2011, 2013, 2014), Hall of Fame Inductee as Coach (2025) |
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What You'll Learn
Billy Donovan's career as a player
Billy Donovan's career as a basketball player was relatively short-lived, spanning just two seasons from 1987 to 1989. During this time, he played for both the developmental Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and the NBA's New York Knicks, led by his former college coach, Rick Pitino.
Before his professional career, Donovan attended St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, New York, and later played as the starting point guard for Rick Pitino's Providence College squad. Here, he demonstrated his talent, leading the Friars to the 1987 Final Four. This achievement made him one of only four men, including Dean Smith, Joe B. Hall, and Bobby Knight, to appear in the NCAA Final Four as a player and later win the NCAA national championship as a coach.
However, Donovan's professional playing career was brief. After leaving the CBA in January 1989, he embarked on a short-lived career as a Wall Street stockbroker, which he reportedly disliked. He soon transitioned into coaching, joining his former coach Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky as an unpaid graduate assistant, marking the end of his playing days.
Donovan's true passion and talent lay in coaching, and he went on to have a highly successful career as a basketball coach, achieving numerous accolades and becoming the winningest coach in Florida's program history.
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Coaching career
Billy Donovan's coaching career began in 1989 when he took up an assistant coach position at the University of Kentucky, working under his former college coach, Rick Pitino. Donovan worked his way up from an unpaid graduate assistant to top assistant coach and lead recruiter under Pitino. In 1993, the Wildcats made it to the Final Four, and Donovan helped recruit the members of UK's 1996 national championship team.
In 1994, Donovan accepted his first head coaching position at Marshall University, becoming the youngest head basketball coach in NCAA Division I at 28 years old. Over two seasons, he led the Thundering Herd to a 35-20 record. Donovan was then hired to revive Florida's basketball program in 1996. After two losing seasons, he rebuilt the roster, and his teams began a streak of sixteen straight 20-win seasons. Donovan recorded his 400th career victory at the University of Florida on January 19, 2013, with an 83-52 win over the Missouri Tigers. The Gators won the 2013 SEC regular-season championship, and Donovan's 2013-14 squad faced one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in college basketball. On February 28, 2015, Donovan became the second-youngest coach in NCAA Division I history to earn 500 career wins.
Throughout his 19 years at the University of Florida, Donovan had a record of 467-185, and in 21 years overall, he achieved a record of 502-206. Donovan's influence extended beyond the court, as he served as a mentor and sounding board for other coaches, including those at Florida and UConn.
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Awards and recognition
Billy Donovan is an American basketball coach and former player who has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. Donovan played basketball at St. Agnes Cathedral High School and was the starting point guard for Rick Pitino's Providence College squad, leading the Friars to the 1987 Final Four.
As a coach, Donovan has had a highly successful career, particularly with the University of Florida Gators, where he served as head coach from 1996 to 2015. During his tenure, Donovan led the Gators to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 and an NCAA championship appearance in 2000. He also guided the Gators to four Final Fours, six SEC regular-season championships, and four SEC Tournament titles. Donovan was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014, and his players won numerous conference individual awards. In total, Donovan amassed 467 wins as an SEC head coach, trailing only Adolph Rupp, and only Rupp and Joe B. Hall have won more SEC championships.
In addition to his collegiate coaching success, Donovan has also found success in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He served as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons, leading them to 400 wins, and is currently in his fifth season as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Donovan was a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2025, an honour befitting his accomplishments at the University of Florida.
Prior to his coaching career, Donovan played in the Continental Basketball Association and the NBA's New York Knicks during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons. He then served as an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team from 1989 to 1993 before taking his first head coaching position at Marshall University in 1994.
Donovan has also received other awards and recognition throughout his career. He was presented with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award by the United States Sports Academy in 2006 and the John R. Wooden Award's "Legends of Coaching Award" in 2010.
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Coaching at the University of Florida
Billy Donovan, the former head coach of the University of Florida's basketball team, is the most successful coach in the program's history. Donovan was hired to revive the team in 1996, and he did just that, leading the Gators to a streak of sixteen consecutive 20-win seasons. In total, his teams made it to the NCAA tournament 13 times, winning two NCAA championships, four Final Fours, six SEC regular-season championships, and four SEC Tournament titles. In addition, Donovan's Gators secured 467 wins, the most of any coach in the program, and the team earned a No. 1 national ranking in five different seasons.
Before joining the University of Florida, Donovan served as an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team from 1989 to 1993. He then took on his first head coaching role at Marshall University in 1994, where he spent two seasons and compiled a 35-20 record.
During his time at the University of Florida, Donovan was recognised by his peers as the SEC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014. He also received the John R. Wooden Award's "Legends of Coaching Award" in 2010. After 19 impressive seasons with the Gators, Donovan left in 2015 to coach the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. He has since moved on to coach the Chicago Bulls, where he has found further success in the NBA.
Donovan's impact on the University of Florida's basketball program has been significant, and he is highly regarded by the current UF head coach, Todd Golden, who has maintained a relationship with Donovan. Donovan's achievements were recognised with his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, honouring his exceptional coaching career and the success he brought to the University of Florida.
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Donovan's family
I found two notable people with the name Will Donovan:
Will Donovan, the basketball coach
Born William John Donovan, Billy Donovan is a former basketball player and coach. Donovan's coaching career began at the University of Kentucky, where he served as an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team from 1989 to 1993. He landed his first head coaching position at Marshall University in 1994, leading the team to a 35–20 record over two seasons. Donovan is most known for his time at the University of Florida, where he was hired to revive the basketball program in 1996. During his 19 years at Florida, he led the Gators to sixteen straight 20-win seasons and two consecutive national titles. Donovan's success at Florida led to NBA interest, and he briefly accepted a head coaching position with the Orlando Magic in 2007 before returning to the Gators after a week. He eventually left Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015.
Donovan is a highly decorated coach, recognised by his peers as the SEC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014. He was also awarded the John R. Wooden Award's "Legends of Coaching Award" in 2010.
Donovan married Christine Hasbrouck (née D'Auria) on August 5, 1989. They have four children: Connor, Bryan, Hasbrouck Anne, and William Donovan III, who played for his father's team as a reserve guard. Donovan and Christine lost their fifth child, Jacqueline, who was delivered stillborn in 2000. This tragedy led Donovan to become involved in several children's charities.
Will Donovan, the musician
Born Donovan Phillips Leitch, Donovan is a Scottish musician, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging from the British folk scene in 1965, Donovan became a prominent figure in the flower power era, blending folk, pop, psychedelica, and jazz in his music. He scored multiple international hit singles and albums, including "Sunshine Superman," which topped the US charts in 1966, and "Mellow Yellow," which reached No. 2 in the US and the UK. Donovan was also friends with many prominent musicians of his time, including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and the Beatles. He even taught John Lennon a finger-picking guitar style that Lennon used in several songs.
Donovan married Linda Lawrence in 1970 after a reunion. Their son, Donovan Jerome Leitch, is an actor and singer known for his roles in films like "The Blob" (1988) and "I Shot Andy Warhol" (1996). Donovan and Linda separated, and he later had another child, Ione Skye, with model Enid Karl (née Stulberger). Donovan married his second wife, Scottish model Kirsty Hume, in 1997, and they had a daughter, Violet Jean Leitch, in 2004.
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Frequently asked questions
William John Donovan.
Donovan has a 35-20 record over two seasons with Marshall University. He led the Florida Gators to 16 straight 20-win seasons and two consecutive national titles.
Donovan has won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award, the "Legends of Coaching Award", and was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2025.
