Billy Donovan’s First Year with OKC, Foley Retirement Reaction

Oklahoma City Head Coach Billy Donovan has just finished his rookie year of coaching in the NBA. Donovan spent 19 seasons at the University of Florida, winning NCAA Championships two consecutive years in a row.

Donovan says he enjoyed his first year with the Thunder but also says it went by too fast.

Donovan’s success in the NBA came easy due to the players and the staff on OKC.

Donovan also discussed what it’s like to see his former Gators playing in the NBA. Donovan said that players like Marreese Speights, who now plays for the Golden State Warriors, changed not only as a player, but as a person. He says every time he sees his former players on other teams in the NBA, they always come up and give him a hug before stepping on the court to try and beat the Thunder.

Donovan had much success at UF, racking four Final Four appearances, two NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships in 2006 and 2007, and three SEC Coach of the Year awards under Athletic Director Jeremy Foley. Foley, who just announced his retirement from Florida, made sure to give Donovan a ring before the announcement went public.

Donovan says when he found out that Foley was retiring he was shocked and wanted to make sure it was not due to health reasons.

Foley was a great athletic director because he always knew how to deal with each coach at the University of Florida, whether it was men’s tennis, women’s tennis, or football – Foley always knew how to help each team, according to Donovan.

Not only was Foley a helpful AD, but he is also one of Donovan’s closest friends. The news for Donovan was shocking, but he knows it’s a good decision for Foley.

Foley, who will be having a press conference at the University of Florida Tuesday, at 5 p.m., says this was his decision completely and his time at the University of Florida is coming to an end for good reasons. His retirement will be effective October 1.

.@okcthunder HC Billy Donovan discusses @FloridaGators AD Jeremy Foley's retirement with @SteveRussell850 https://t.co/wL2gZfjTqr

— ESPNGainesville WRUF (@ESPNGainesville) June 14, 2016