Billy Donovan returned to the city where he became a legend, wiping tears from his eyes as he saw his signature on the court between the three-point line and the key.
It’s an honor that’s arguably just as big as being inducted into the basketball hall of fame, something that is surely in the cards for the two-time National Championship coach. A lot of coaches are in the hall of fame, not many had such an impact at one institution that they have a piece of the arena named for them.
“It’s just really emotional for me, and I’m really humbled,” Donovan said. “I’ve always said this: It takes a lot of people to really contribute and help. … Everybody contributed. I’m just thankful that I was around such great people. I think that’s what it speaks to is the quality of people that I was fortunate enough to be around here at Florida.”
Donovan was hired at just 30 years old. His first few teams in Gainesville went 28-33 but Donovan was relentless recruiter, so much so that some blue blood coaches wondered aloud how he was starting to get the attention of recruits at a place like Florida that had been mostly mediocre on the hardwood.
Florida hadn’t shown anything on the court yet, but if you asked any of the 28 players that made their way from all around the country to be in Gainesville next to Donovan on Saturday night it was simple. Donovan was a great recruiter because he was a great coach and, somehow, an even better person.
“He lured me in from day one. He never guaranteed me anything. He made me work for everything and he challenged me both on and off the floor and I thank him for that and that’s why I respect him so much and why I’m appreciative of him. A lot of the morals and values I have today are because of him,” Bradley Beal said.
Beal only played one year for Donovan but told Gator Country that he actually committed to Donovan as a sophomore in high school and he helped Beal on the court, but even more off of it.
“He’s the reason I am who I am today.”
Donovan went 467-186 at Florida before leaving in 2015 to take the head-coaching job for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Donovan watched as the Gators’ played a video tribute at halftime with some of Donovan’s former assistant coaches that couldn’t be in attendance sending well wishes.
Dayton’s Anthony Grant, Tennessee Tech’s John Pelphrey, Georgia State’s Rob Lanier and UMass’ Matt McCall – head coaches who worked under Donovan – had games and couldn’t make it.
As Donovan spoke to the fans, standing just a few feet from where his name will forever remain on the court in Gainesville he turned the attention from himself. He thanked his players and coaches that helped him along the way and then, of course, in Billy D style, he thanked the fans.
“When you look down at the court, see your name down there a well,” Donovan told the crowd. “Because you’re just as much a part of it as everybody else.”