Brockway: Billy D doesn't rule out coaching in NBA

[FranceGator]

From an article by Kevin Brockway:

“The one thing that I think is always intriguing the older is the fact that (the NBA) is just all about basketball. I love the practices, I love the games, I love doing individual instruction and and breaking down tape and game planning and doing those things.

“Sometimes, I think, as you get older there is a lot of other things that you have to do here in college. For me, right now, I love Florida. I think the one think that I’ve been fortunate of here is I’ve had the same athletic director, Jeremy Foley, since I first came here. He hired me and he’s still here. He’s wonderful and we have a great relationship.”

The article implies that two things are a big factor: his kids finishing school in Gainesville and his relationship with his AD (JF). Those two things change and the ol' itch might return.

[jmac83]

I was about to offer faint praise to Brockway for something approaching a scoop, then I click on the link and find he's sourcing a Lebetard interview. Should have known he wouldn't ask an original question himself.

[MadduxFanII]

This does seem like something we'll have to keep an eye on over the next few years, especially if we have the success we expect. I can't imagine Billy leaving for another college gig (he twice spurned Kentucky), but we know he can be tempted by the NBA.

I do wonder if NBA execs are going to be wary of Billy after the Magic fiasco.

[Nicho]

Billy sounds like he's a bit tired of recruiting. It's understandable.

I support him eventually making the jump, but I'd just like to see him coach the team through 2014, when our transfers and stud recruits suit up.

[gatorfansrule]

I hope he never leaves. However at some point it is going happen (whether retirement or moving on to another job). When it does happen I hope that he has been able to raise our basketball program to such a high level that we can replace him with another great coach and continue the great basketball program that Donovan has created. I would hate to go back to the pre-Donovan basketball days. I love Gator football and basketball equally.

[your_perfect_enemy]

Here's more of the interview.

http://www.onlygators.com/12/12/2012...ba/#more-52717

[REM08]

Originally Posted by Nicho

Billy sounds like he's a bit tired of recruiting. It's understandable.

I support him eventually making the jump, but I'd just like to see him coach the team through 2014, when our transfers and stud recruits suit up.

I agree and applaud him for not doing what Tubby Smith did when he grew tired of recruiting and pretty much quit recruiting. He's got a great staff at the moment and appears to be putting as much effort into getting players as he ever has. It'd be easy for him to coast on his back to back titles and eternal job security - but he doesn't. Good for him.

I think he's really got a good setup at Florida. He isn't under the pressure he would be at most any other school that he could possibly consider leaving for - yet he gets paid similarly. No coach has done what he's done at his school. Not many coaches can say that.

I say no way he leaves for another college job. The ONLY wildcard I'd throw out there is something involving Rick Pitino considering the admiration he seems to have for him. I still only give this a 2% chance and it'd take something like Pitino becoming an AD at a school Billy had some emotional or meaningful connection with in some way. I'm not even sure I can think up what this might look like. Just wont' happen.

Can't blame him for still pondering the NBA if his focus is really on the game of basketball first. Fortunately or unfortunately for college coaches, basketball is only a percentage of what they do. Still, could you really see him leaving soon? What happens if it doesn't work out? Pitino always says, and has told Donovan before, that you "don't mess with happiness." I think he'd have to grow quite tired of recruiting or other college issues before really considering making the jump.

[rserina]

That just reiterates what he has always said about college and the NBA.

[GatorNorth]

Will be a sad day when he leaves, but leave one day he will. At 17 years and counting he's already long past the average stay.

[gatorbogey]

to me the message is - he loves to coach and loves the game. i think he might find alot of satisfaction in grooming others to become coaches as well as teaching the game to "new" players. i think he probably prefers teaching the college kids the game - as frustrating as that might be. at least it keeps you 'fresh'. nba has its own rigors, and dealing w/ players that may discount the value of 'practice'.

[ArtVandelay]

Billy was on Dan LeBaTARD last night. They were trying to promote the Orange Bowl Classic.

Didn't catch the whole thing, but Dan did ask him about going to the NBA. Billy didn't flat out say no, never.

I don't think he is going anywhere anytime soon so let's not have this thread get out of control, but he did say that he likes the aspect of it being all basketball all the time. He did say that having Foley as the AD his whole time there makes it easier. I wonder if Foley retiring would make him consider a jump.

Again, I don't think he is leaving anytime soon, but I would have liked to hear him say no, never. I know there are probably coaches out there who have no desire of going to the NBA and would have said so.

I'm thankful that he is our coach and for everything he has done for the program. I wouldn't get mad at him if he decided to leave for the NBA, just like I didn't when I thought he was going to Orlando. We should enjoy however long he decides to stay.

Go Gators!

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by gatorfansrule

I hope he never leaves. However at some point it is going happen (whether retirement or moving on to another job). When it does happen I hope that he has been able to raise our basketball program to such a high level that we can replace him with another great coach and continue the great basketball program that Donovan has created. I would hate to go back to the pre-Donovan basketball days. I love Gator football and basketball equally.

Unlike the football program, I think it's a legitimate concern that our basketball program could go back to a permanent lower-tier status post-Donovan. I hope Donovan stays until he's smashed all of Coach K's career records. Then, he has my blessing to go check out the NBA


I found it absolutely mind-boggling that some posters within the last couple of years were saying Donovan's results were "unacceptable" (implying IMO that we'd be better off without Donovan); and that FlaAlum poster was saying Donovan should get a pay cut due to lack of NCAA Tourney wins (a move which would have definitely sent Donovan packing - not that I think Foley ever considered doing such a dumb thing).

[your_perfect_enemy]

I was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago. If Billy were to ever leave, is Anthony Grant still the first call Foley makes?

[eacogator]

First call would be Shaka Smart

[iam4uf]

In the last year or two, I recall Donovan say something to the effect that he wanted to stay at Florida because the program was not yet where he wanted it to be. If Donovan gets UF to that level, I guess it won't matter if he leaves (although I'll hate to see him go no matter what the reason.)

[REM08]

Originally Posted by your_perfect_enemy

I was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago. If Billy were to ever leave, is Anthony Grant still the first call Foley makes?

I was wondering this also. Its always been my uninformed assumption.

Also, I know this kind of talk coming up in this thread is going to bring about 10 posts ripping 'next coach' speculation as being overreacting or even disrespectful. Save it. No one wants Billy gone. But the fact is that even if he sticks around for the next 50 years, eventually someone will have to follow him.

Thinking about the ridiculous task of following him at Florida got me thinking about something, has a coach of his caliber/status/legend-of-program ever been replaced with someone of close to equal effectiveness? Is it reasonable to expect someone like Grant (or any other coach the school could land) to step in and pretty much pick up where Donovan left off? Would the expectation, instead, be maybe a lull and then a return to Donovanesque status?

[Ahab]

How old are Billy's kids anyway? Has there ever been speculation as to win Foley will retire? UF is going to have to figure out an appropriate honor for him. He deserves his name on a building somewhere.

[oxymoron]

Lon Krueger tried the NBA and he got fired twice in one calender year. You need to be in a good ownership situation.

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by REM08

I was wondering this also. Its always been my uninformed assumption.

Also, I know this kind of talk coming up in this thread is going to bring about 10 posts ripping 'next coach' speculation as being overreacting or even disrespectful. Save it. No one wants Billy gone. But the fact is that even if he sticks around for the next 50 years, eventually someone will have to follow him.

Thinking about the ridiculous task of following him at Florida got me thinking about something, has a coach of his caliber/status/legend-of-program ever been replaced with someone of close to equal effectiveness? Is it reasonable to expect someone like Grant (or any other coach the school could land) to step in and pretty much pick up where Donovan left off? Would the expectation, instead, be maybe a lull and then a return to Donovanesque status?

Good question. I feel like a few good sports programs seem to have some success with this issue. Boise State football seems like it went from Hawkins to Peterson without a drop off. Miles did pretty well filling in for Saban at LSU. Meyer had a nice first year at OSU. Gonzaga basketball had some good success with Few after Monson's breakthough. The fact that I am thinking this hard about the question though seems to indicate that these are the exceptions that prove the rule.

[go82uf]

Great Gator. Appreciate all he's done and hope he stays til he retires. Definitely lucky to have him.