Billy Donovan reaffirms commitment to Bulls amid Kentucky job opening

Before the Chicago Bulls' Tuesday night loss to the New York Knicks, coach Billy Donovan stated that he hasn't been contacted by the University of Kentucky regarding their men's basketball coaching vacancy. He emphasized his continued commitment to the Bulls.

Following John Calipari's sudden departure from his 15-year coaching tenure, the Kentucky men's basketball head coaching position was left vacant, prompting speculation about potential successors. Among the speculated candidates is Billy Donovan, whose name has emerged as one of the top targets for the Wildcats.

Donovan, who started his coaching career as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1989 to 1993, achieved notable success in college basketball, notably clinching consecutive national championships at Florida. Reflecting on his time at Kentucky, Donovan expressed fond memories and maintains a connection with Calipari.


Despite his collegiate background, Donovan transitioned to coaching in the NBA, initially with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015 before joining the Chicago Bulls in 2020. While he hasn't ruled out a return to college coaching in the future, Donovan conveyed contentment with his current NBA coaching role.


After this season, Donovan has two years left on his contract. The Bulls, currently at 37-42, are poised for the 9/10 play-in matchup in the Eastern Conference, aiming to clinch the No. 9 seed and home-court advantage in that crucial game. Despite Donovan's career record in Chicago standing at 154-161, sources indicate to ESPN that the Bulls are satisfied with his coaching performance throughout the season, notably aiding the team's recovery from a challenging 5-14 start.

Source ESPN : Billy Donovan on Kentucky job opening: Committed to Bulls
Source RealGM : Billy Donovan Hasn't Had Contact With Kentucky, Committed To Bulls