Billy Donovan goes pro

[bigboydan]

Why in the world would you wanna go take a job in the pros when you know no college hoops coach has been successful at it. I know it's hard to turn down that type of money and all, but he had it made at Florida. Now he's gonna have to deal with players that won't even listen to him.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Billy Donovan has accepted a guaranteed five-year, $28.5 million offer to become the Orlando Magic's new head coach, according to a league source.

The Magic offered the contract -- which will pay Donovan $5.7 million a year -- on Wednesday. The 42-year-old had a 24-hour window to make a decision.

[Senator7]

Can you say Rick Pitino...

[slacker00]

I wonder how much $$$ he was making at Florida.

[Seattle Slew]

As long as Rick Pitino isn't his GM, I think he'll do fine.

[onlooker]

I really hope he does well, but I just have a feeling he won't. I think the Kentucky job was a better option then this. Besides the whole in state thing.

[bigboydan]

Can you say Rick Pitino...

The exception to this rule is Larry Brown Senator. Pitino didn't really win anything while coaching for the Knicks. My point is do you honestly believe that Billy Donovan is going to win an NBA championship while coaching the Magic?

[BuddyBear]

Not sure why so many GM's look to college coaches knowing the abysmal success rate these coaches have coming from NCAAB. In my opinion, Orlando would have been better served be selecting a young NBA assistant coach who has been tutored under a strong coach (i.e. Greg Popovich, Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson, etc...).

[isetcap]

Not sure why so many GM's look to college coaches knowing the abysmal success rate these coaches have coming from NCAAB. In my opinion, Orlando would have been better served be selecting a young NBA assistant coach who has been tutored under a strong coach (i.e. Greg Popovich, Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson, etc...).

Once again, BB is correct. This is a disaster waiting to happen for Donovan. Fortunately for him, he'll have the services of the game's best young raw talent in Dwight Howard and a good array of young players, but that can be a double-edged sword. He'll be expected to succeed immediately with this team and that leaves little room for error.

I will say this though: A college coach never gets to step into such a positive situation in terms of personel. Other coaches were salivating at the Orlando opportunity. If he does fail then he'll have nobody to blame but himself.

[kalmikrazy]

If he were to take a job this is a good spot. He lost all his players. Even though he did get alot of players from HS. The one good thing about Orlando is that Howard is a future star and a big man which you can build around. Hope he does good. The NCAA lost a good coach.

[Tchocky]

It was inevitable. Donovan has no incentive to return to Florida State with all his starters leaving for the NBA and little chance of winning another title. Now he's got 36 million reasons to go to the NBA. Who can blame this guy? He can always go back to college if things don't work out.

[isetcap]

It was inevitable. Donovan has no incentive to return to Florida State with all his starters leaving for the NBA and little chance of winning another title. Now he's got 36 million reasons to go to the NBA. Who can blame this guy? He can always go back to college if things don't work out.

Please don't confuse the Thugs of Florida State with the Champions of Florida. It would be hard to find two schools that dislike each other more.

You're right, he can always go back to college but he may never have another situation like the one that exists at the University of Florida. Couple that with the fact that he had an opportunity to be a "legacy" coach at Florida. Now he'll just be perceived as another mercenary.

[seaborneq]

Please don't confuse the Thugs of Florida State with the Champions of Florida. It would be hard to find two schools that dislike each other more.

You're right, he can always go back to college but he may never have another situation like the one that exists at the University of Florida. Couple that with the fact that he had an opportunity to be a "legacy" coach at Florida. Now he'll just be perceived as another mercenary.

I hate to break it to you, but we are all mercenaries at some point in our lives.

[BuddyBear]

I don't even blame Donovan...that's too much money to pass up. I blame GM's who continually target successful NCAA coaches believing that success at the college game translates to success in the NBA game. They are very dissimilar and should be treated as such. You can count the number of coaches who have had a successful transition from NCAAB to NBA. Not many....no reason to believe that Donovan will either. I suspect he'll back in the college game shortly coaching at possibly a place like Providence where he will have very little pressure to do well.