Kentucky Basketball: 20 candidates to replace John Calipari as Head Coach

Billy Donovan

All things will be considered for the next leader at Kentucky, including a few names mentioned during their last head coaching search 15 years ago. Things have changed a lot in the game of basketball, but Donovan still remains an intriguing and attractive name for the Wildcats.

He played college ball for Providence and was briefly in the NBA before beginning his coaching career on Rick Pitino’s staff here at Kentucky. Donovan was later head coach at Marshall before a prosperous 19-year tenure at Florida that included a pair of national championships and four trips to the Final Four. Since 2015, Donovan has been a head coach in the NBA, with runs with both the Oklahoma City Thunder and currently the Chicago Bulls.

Donovan is a dynamic coach who knows how to win the SEC and on the biggest stage. He’s got that experience in Kentucky and that could be attractive for a reunion from both sides. However, Donovan has been out of the college game for nine years and might not be eager to leave an NBA gig for the collegiate grind again. It all boils down to his mindset as he should certainly be one of Kentucky’s first calls.