Billy Donovan, the veteran basketball strategist known for his tenure at the University of Florida and the Oklahoma City Thunder, has agreed to join the San Antonio Spurs as their lead assistant coach.
A New Chapter in San Antonio
Donovan's decision to step away from his role as head coach of the Chicago Bulls was framed as a move to let the franchise pursue a new direction, a transition that follows a stint in which the Bulls posted a 226‑256 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of his final four seasons.
His coaching pedigree stretches back to a 19‑year run at Florida, where he compiled a 467‑186 record, captured multiple SEC titles and earned the NBCA Coach of the Year honor after his final season with the Thunder. Prior to that, he guided the Thunder to a 400‑243 record over five years and was a finalist for the head coaching jobs at North Carolina and the Orlando Magic.
In 2025, Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his status among the game's most influential figures. The Spurs, based in Texas and looking to reshape their roster, hope his experience will help chart a competitive future, a narrative that also intertwines with his previous connections to the Bulls, the University of Florida Gators and the Orlando Magic.