(670 The Score) As speculation swirls that the University of Kentucky will soon pursue him for its head coaching vacancy, Bulls coach Billy Donovan on Tuesday affirmed his commitment to his current organization.
Donovan is a top target of Kentucky’s, ESPN reported, in the aftermath of coach John Calipari choosing to leave Lexington to lead the Arkansas program. Donovan, 58, was an assistant coach at Kentucky from 1989-’94 under Rick Pitino.
“Like at all my stops, you have very, very fond memories,” Donovan said before the Bulls hosted the Knicks at the United Center. “I have not been contacted by anybody. I haven’t spoken to anybody. My total commitment and focus is here to this team and to this group. I think with what we’ve been through this year and the way we started (5-14), we’ve talked about it, I give our guys a lot of credit for hanging in there and battling through some of the things we had to battle through, and I’m with them on that. I’m committed to them with that. Again, a lot of this stuff, I think, sometimes turns out to be speculation, but I have not had any contact with anybody, and my commitment is here.”
Asked how he would respond if Kentucky did contact him, Donovan replied, “I would still say the same thing.”
“I’m committed to being here with this group and trying to help these guys as best we can to close out this year and try get a home court in the play-in and then try to advance,” Donovan said.
Donovan is no stranger to the collegiate level, as he had his greatest professional triumphs there. He was the head coach at Florida from 1996-2015 and had great success there in posting a .715 winning percentage. Donovan led the Gators to two national championships, four Final Four appearances and six regular-season SEC titles in 19 seasons in Gainesville. He then left for the NBA in 2015, when he took over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While he didn’t completely close the door to returning to the college level someday, Donovan indicated the NBA is where he wants to be coaching.
“I’m happy here at this level and stuff like that,” Donovan said. “But I also understand too that like in this profession, sometimes things don’t work out at a particular place or things change. And I know I enjoy coaching, and I know I enjoy coaching in the NBA.”
Donovan also had high praise for the Kentucky job and the program, admitting he was flattered his name has come up.
"You always are, right?" Donovan said. "But I haven't spoken to anybody. And listen, I'm friendly with John (Calipari). I've known him for a long, long time. He did a phenomenal job. Obviously, I coached against him quite a bit when I was Florida, and he did an amazing job there. Obviously, I spent time there (in Lexington). I understand the magnitude of that place and the history and the tradition and everything that goes into that place. And it is flattering to be mentioned with a school and a tradition like that in this game. But I also know that people will speculate of what may or may not happen. I understand the interest in Kentucky basketball. But I mean, has John even actually left? You know what I mean? And they're speculating what's happening. I'm sure the athletic director hasn't even made any phone calls, if he has. I don't even know. So like I said, my focus has been on our team and trying to help these guys get better and trying to close out these last four games to the best of our ability, try to find a way to get a home game for the play-in, see if we can get and find our way into the playoffs and stuff like that. Listen, I've said before, I've got an enormous amount of respect for Kentucky, their program and what it stands for."
Donovan has two years remaining on his contract with the Bulls after the conclusion of this season, which is nearing the finish line. Entering play Tuesday, the Bulls were 37-41 and locked into a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks in the 9/10-seed play-in game on April 17, with only the location to be determined. The Bulls will need to win two games in the play-in round to advance to the traditional eight-team playoff bracket in the East.
In his Bulls tenure, Donovan has compiled a 154-160 record (.490 winning percentage) across four seasons. The Bulls have one playoff berth in that span.
Donovan earned around $6 million annually on his initial contract with the Bulls, according to reports, though he has signed one extension since then that likely increased that figure.
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund .
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