Hmm interesting.
Why would he change his mind like this out of nowhere and would you really want someone coaching your team that really doesn't have the fire and passion to even want to be there and win ships?
Risky for orlando to go after him, but for Donovan, it's more money, great opportunity and plus FLA is now rebuilding/ reloading and it seems like a great time to go paid and ride off into the sunset.
Why would he change his mind like this out of nowhere and would you really want someone coaching your team that really doesn't have the fire and passion to even want to be there and win ships?
Risky for orlando to go after him, but for Donovan, it's more money, great opportunity and plus FLA is now rebuilding/ reloading and it seems like a great time to go paid and ride off into the sunset.
Maybe this is his way of going to kentucky.
6/4 ESPN
Billy Donovan informed the Magic and the University of Florida over the weekend that he had second thoughts about agreeing to be Orlando's head coach, but it's unclear if the NBA team will let him go.
Orlando has a signed contract from Donovan and are making a decision as to whether or not to let him out of the five-year, $27.5 million deal that he signed Thursday, multiple sources told ESPN.com Sunday.
If the Magic do let Donovan out of the deal, they have to decide whether to enforce a financial penalty. Both sides aren't talking publicly since there are legal issues involved in such a decision.
Multiple sources said that the decision now rests in the hands of the Magic. A final decision could come as early as Monday.
Donovan's hiring on Thursday prompted the sale of 200 Magic season tickets by Friday afternoon. Magic communications director Joel Glass confirmed that number after Friday's news conference introducing Donovan to a standing ovation from the entire on-site Magic organization at the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando. Losing Donovan as coach would likely be a public relations hit to a franchise that needed a pop.
Donovan is coming off winning back-to-back national titles at Florida, the first time that has occurred since Duke did it in 1991-92. Donovan, who turned 42 Wednesday, agonized over the decision to accept the Magic offer after first being approached last week.
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley flew to Richmond, Va., on Saturday to meet with Donovan's former assistant, VCU head coach Anthony Grant, about the opening. But multiple sources confirmed that the plane was on the ground for less than an hour. Foley left without Grant aboard.
Over the weekend, multiple sources said Grant was the top choice but that both he and Donovan wanted to make sure that all of their respective staffs were taken care of before any move was made.
"I have been contacted by the University of Florida regarding their coaching vacancy," Grant said in a statement on Sunday night. "I have not had any in-person contact with any Florida representative, nor have I been offered the job. At this point in time, I will have no further comment on this situation as my focus is on my responsibilities at VCU."
On Friday, Donovan was emphatic about why he ultimately made the choice. He said that he wanted a new challenge and saw the proximity to his home in Gainesville and the young stars on the Magic roster like Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson as well as $10-13 million in salary cap space as a primary reason for jumping at this job.
"My initial reaction was to stay," Donovan said on Friday. "But then I asked myself why? And [staying] was easier. If I don't take this job, then I don't have to talk to Jeremy Foley [the Florida athletic director] and the players. I was going to get paid a good salary and had a good life there. I just went back and forth. "But then I asked myself, 'What do I really want?' I do want the challenge. That's what I wanted to do in my heart."
If Donovan had a change of heart, it wouldn't be the first in college basketball.
Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced as Arkansas' new basketball coach earlier this spring, then decided to return to Creighton two days later.
Altman's reversal was not without precedent. In 1993, Bobby Cremins accepted the South Carolina job, then reneged two days later and returned to Georgia Tech.
And in June 2006, Charleston hired Winthrop's Gregg Marshall, but Marshall told the Cougars one day later he was returning to Winthrop.
Billy Donovan informed the Magic and the University of Florida over the weekend that he had second thoughts about agreeing to be Orlando's head coach, but it's unclear if the NBA team will let him go.
Orlando has a signed contract from Donovan and are making a decision as to whether or not to let him out of the five-year, $27.5 million deal that he signed Thursday, multiple sources told ESPN.com Sunday.
If the Magic do let Donovan out of the deal, they have to decide whether to enforce a financial penalty. Both sides aren't talking publicly since there are legal issues involved in such a decision.
Multiple sources said that the decision now rests in the hands of the Magic. A final decision could come as early as Monday.
Donovan's hiring on Thursday prompted the sale of 200 Magic season tickets by Friday afternoon. Magic communications director Joel Glass confirmed that number after Friday's news conference introducing Donovan to a standing ovation from the entire on-site Magic organization at the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando. Losing Donovan as coach would likely be a public relations hit to a franchise that needed a pop.
Donovan is coming off winning back-to-back national titles at Florida, the first time that has occurred since Duke did it in 1991-92. Donovan, who turned 42 Wednesday, agonized over the decision to accept the Magic offer after first being approached last week.
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley flew to Richmond, Va., on Saturday to meet with Donovan's former assistant, VCU head coach Anthony Grant, about the opening. But multiple sources confirmed that the plane was on the ground for less than an hour. Foley left without Grant aboard.
Over the weekend, multiple sources said Grant was the top choice but that both he and Donovan wanted to make sure that all of their respective staffs were taken care of before any move was made.
"I have been contacted by the University of Florida regarding their coaching vacancy," Grant said in a statement on Sunday night. "I have not had any in-person contact with any Florida representative, nor have I been offered the job. At this point in time, I will have no further comment on this situation as my focus is on my responsibilities at VCU."
On Friday, Donovan was emphatic about why he ultimately made the choice. He said that he wanted a new challenge and saw the proximity to his home in Gainesville and the young stars on the Magic roster like Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson as well as $10-13 million in salary cap space as a primary reason for jumping at this job.
"My initial reaction was to stay," Donovan said on Friday. "But then I asked myself why? And [staying] was easier. If I don't take this job, then I don't have to talk to Jeremy Foley [the Florida athletic director] and the players. I was going to get paid a good salary and had a good life there. I just went back and forth. "But then I asked myself, 'What do I really want?' I do want the challenge. That's what I wanted to do in my heart."
If Donovan had a change of heart, it wouldn't be the first in college basketball.
Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced as Arkansas' new basketball coach earlier this spring, then decided to return to Creighton two days later.
Altman's reversal was not without precedent. In 1993, Bobby Cremins accepted the South Carolina job, then reneged two days later and returned to Georgia Tech.
And in June 2006, Charleston hired Winthrop's Gregg Marshall, but Marshall told the Cougars one day later he was returning to Winthrop.
