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5 unusual facts about Billy Donovan


Billy Donovan

In October 2008, coach Billy Donovan and then-head Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer were named co-chairmen of an effort to raise $50 million to support the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program.

He is one of only four men (Dean Smith, Joe B. Hall and Bobby Knight being the others) to appear in the NCAA Final Four as a player and win the NCAA national championship as a coach.

"Billy the Kid," as Providence fans soon nicknamed him (after the 19th century outlaw), averaged 15.1 points as a junior and 20.6 as a senior, when he led the Friars to the Final Four and earned the Southeast Regional Most Valuable Player honors.

Florida Opportunity Scholars Program

In 2008, Coach Urban Meyer and Coach Billy Donovan agreed to lead the charge to raise $50 million to help support and fund this scholarship on campus.

Haile Plantation, Florida

Celebrity residents of Haile Plantation include current basketball head coach Billy Donovan.


2007–08 Orlando Magic season

June 6: The Magic hire Stan Van Gundy as head coach, days after Billy Donovan was signed as head coach and released due to a change of heart from Donovan.

Full-court press

Certain teams, such as those coached by Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan, are known for applying full-court pressure during most of the game (this was especially evident for Pitino's Kentucky Wildcats championship squad in the 1996 NCAA tournament).


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