Billy Donovan announced his resignation on Tuesday, ending his six-season run with the Chicago Bulls. Donovan first started coaching in 1989 as an assistant in Kentucky. In 1994, he landed his first head coaching job with Marshall.
He served as the head coach for the Florida Gators from 1996 to 2015. During his run, he won two NCAA titles, made four Final Four appearances, and won four SEC Tournament titles. In 2015, he became an NBA head coach with the OKC.
His overall NBA head coaching record stands at 469-413, including 226-256 with the Bulls. These numbers don’t do justice to how great Donovan is as a head coach. His overall college record stands at an impressive 502-206.
A proven track record and decades of experience at different levels were the reasons why the North Carolina Tar Heels wanted him to be their next head coach. After the 2025-26 season, the Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis and started looking for suitable replacements.
In late March and early April, they tried their best to bring Donovan to UNC. However, he was still committed to the Chicago Bulls at the time and couldn’t make that decision. Eventually, the Tar Heels moved on.
They decided to go with another NBA coach, Michael Malone, who previously coached the Denver Nuggets for over a decade and won an NBA title with them in 2023.
Now, Donovan is back on the market. UNC rumors are already floating around on the internet. However, it’s highly unlikely that the Tar Heels will part ways with Malone to replace him with Donovan.
So, it’s almost guaranteed that he will not join UNC. Donovan will have plenty of options to choose from in college basketball and the NBA.
Billy Donovan Announced His Resignation
The 60-year-old issued a statement, announcing his resignation. The team is undergoing a front office overhaul, and Donovan decided it was time to leave. Despite his brilliance, he hasn’t been able to get results with the Bulls.
“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,” he said.
“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. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent.”
Donovan thanked the Bulls fans for their “unwavering support” and for bringing their energy to the arena every time the Bulls stepped on the floor.
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