Sometimes we hear rumors or stories about this coach is under consideration for this job or that coach wants that job and we scratch our heads and say "Why?". Classify this story as one of those.
Florida Head Coach Billy Donovan, secure at one of the better basketball programs in the country apparently politely declined a job offer from an alum of St. John's University. The alum, a co-founder of Vitaminwater apparently offered Donovan over $3 million a year to move back to the New York area. Donovan politely declined.
The story from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE
((Billy Donovan says "No Thanks"//Courtesy: SECSportsfan.com))
Ok, so here is our question. Why would Donovan even consider leaving Florida for St. John's? Yes, we know he grew up on Long Island, but aside from that...why? Does St. John's really think that they are held in that high esteem any more? They haven't been relevant in College Basketball really since the 1980's.
Donovan by contrast has a job that he absolutely loves in a part of the world, Gainesville, where he and his family are now very comfortable. Yes, we know that coaches get restless and Donovan hasn't been able to replicate the success he had directing the Gators to back to back Championships in 2006 and 2007. But, because of that, he has carte blanche. As long as the Gators continue to win, the made the NCAA Tourney this year, he can stay as long as he wants to.
It's funny that we read a story this morning that the folks in New York are shocked that Donovan wouldn't seriously consider them. Why? Do you really think that because it is New York City that everyone will come running? Sorry, got news for you...there is a pretty large rest of the universe out there and in a lot of cases, those teams and programs are far better than anything in the Big Apple.
Here is Donovan pumping up his Gators before the NCAA Finals in 2006. Thanks You Tube:
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