Billy Donovan Having Second Thoughts

DAHITMAN

Rising Star
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2892334

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.

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.

Multiple sources said that the decision now rests in the hands of the Magic. A final decision could come as early as Monday.

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.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
 
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kewlphucker

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Registered
Wouldn't be the first time a coach did this i remember Bobby Cremins did this to South Carolina Gamecocks in 03'
 
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PeterPiper

Guest
DAHITMAN said:
Damn I wouldn't have second thoughts on a 27.5 million dollar contract.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Must be nice to have it so good you could walk away from that kind of money.
 

Baldhead_Digital

Rising Star
BGOL Investor
He needs another couple of winning seasons with Florida, so that his "legacy" is in tact, also I'm thinking that he probably didn't want to go to the NBA, where he'd be a small fish again in a really big pond, if he stays in the NCAA for a few more years he can milk this winning seasons. He was up for contract negotiations so i'm sure this is just his bid to try to be come the highest paid College coach in College basketball. I think he's at close to a mil a year now.
 
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