One of the best jobs in sports is now open. As of Tuesday evening, North Carolina is looking for a new men's basketball coach after parting ways with Hubert Davis. The names of several candidates are already floating around, including Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls.
Donovan was asked about his possible interest in the vacancy (subscription required) on Wednesday, and he said, "My main focus is on these guys and this new team." When he said "new team," he didn't mean the Tar Heels, but rather the Bulls' new-look roster after the deadline.
He didn't say he wasn't interested in the job, though, and as Brendan Marks of The Athletic reported, Donovan isn't turning down UNC. At least not yet.
"The two-time championship-winning coach at Florida will at least hear North Carolina's pitch, according to an industry source familiar with Donovan's thinking."
Marks took it a step further, reporting that Donovan and Tommy Lloyd (Arizona's head coach) are the Tar Heels' "two present priorities," but that Lloyd stands out most.
Billy Donovan has interest in the UNC job
Donovan hasn't coached in college since 2015, when he left Florida after 19 years for the pros. You can understand why UNC is interested, though. He led the Gators to back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
Under Donovan, Florida was the regular-season SEC champion six times, the SEC tournament champion four times, and reached the Final Four four times. He led the Gators to 17 straight postseason appearances.
At 60, Donovan certainly isn't too old to make his way back to college, if he so desires. A lot has changed in the decade-plus since he was last on that level, but dealing with NIL and the transfer portal shouldn't throw him for that much of a loop, given his experience in the NBA.
As Marks outlined, there would be challenges in getting Donovan to UNC, including the fact that the transfer portal opens on April 7, five days before Chicago's season ends. There's also the multi-year contract extension he signed last summer.
Donovan's known for his loyalty, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Tuesday morning, roughly 12 hours before North Carolina fired Davis, that "there is growing speculation that Donovan might step away from the mess and take a season to reevaluate what he wants from the profession."
The head coach has dealt with a lot this season in his personal life — losing his father and his mother-in-law eight days apart. Putting the Bulls' chaos aside, it would be understandable if he chose to step away from basketball, at least temporarily.
However, UNC's opening changes things. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Literally. The last time the Tar Heels made a hire without ties to the university was 1952. You have to understand why it's piqued Donovan's interest.
The two sides would have to work out the logistics to get him to Chapel Hill, but it's within the realm of possibility. And if he does leave for North Carolina, could you really blame him?