By ,
Published May 03, 2016
(SportsNetwork.com) - Billy Donovan will reportedly become the new head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Yahoo! Sports has reported that Donovan will leave the University of Florida to try his hand at the pro game and that he is set to sign a five-year contract to replace the fired Scott Brooks with the Thunder.
Various media outlets have reported this week that Donovan was in discussions with Oklahoma City about its coaching vacancy. Brooks was fired on April 22 after a seven-year run that included three visits to the Western Conference finals and a 2012 trip to the NBA Finals.
Donovan has spent 19 seasons at Florida, guiding the Gators to a record of 467-186 with back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. This year's squad finished 16-17, marking his first losing season since his second year with the Gators in 1997-98.
This will be Donovan's first foray into the NBA, although he nearly made the move eight years ago.
In June 2007, Donovan agreed to become the head coach of the Orlando Magic. He backed out a few days after signing a five-year deal and went back to Florida.
The 49-year-old Providence product played one season in the NBA, averaging 2.4 points in 44 games during the 1987-88 season with the New York Knicks. He entered the coaching ranks in 1989 as a graduate assistant under his former Providence head coach, Rick Pitino, at Kentucky.
Following five years with the Wildcats, Donovan became the head coach at Marshall in 1994 and spent two seasons with the Thundering Herd before moving on to Florida.
In 21 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Donovan has a record of 502-206 with 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and four visits to the Final Four. In addition to his two national championships, the Gators also reached the Final Four in 2000 and 2014.
The Thunder made a coaching change after missing the playoffs on the final day of an injury-ravaged season. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were both sidelined to start the campaign and Durant also missed most of the last two months because of a foot injury.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/report-donovan-headed-to-oklahoma-city