AD Foley Acts Quickly; Hires Mike White To Replace Billy Donovan

Earlier this week, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said a committee he had formed to replace men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan was going to have its first meeting.

Apparently the committee didn’t take long to complete its work.

On Thursday, it was announced that Louisiana Tech head coach Michael White was hired to replace Donovan.   White has coached at the school for four seasons but he was also at one time an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ole Miss.

White is getting a six year contract for a reported salary of about two million a season.

The 38 year old White brings a fast paced, wide open offensive style of basketball to Gainesville.  The Bulldogs come off a 27-9 season and a Conference USA regular season title.   Before that, White’s team went 29-8.   White’s teams however did not make the NCAA Tournament after being upset during conference tournament play.

Still, it is not difficult to see the simlarities between White and Billy Donovan, when he first came to Florida.    Donovan brought with him a wide open, up tempo offensive style in which players rained 3’s and his defense was an aggressive, trapping style that caused a lot of turnovers, and that’s what White’s teams have done while at Louisiana Tech.

A press conference should be held on Monday to introduce the new Gator coach.