Billy Donovan’s future could eventually take him back to college basketball, with Kentucky emerging as a potential destination if the longtime coach returns to the NCAA ranks.
Evan Sidery reported Tuesday that many NBA executives believe Donovan could take the 2026-27 season away from coaching before pursuing a return to a blue blood program.
After reportedly passing on the University of North Carolina job, there is growing buzz that Donovan would be highly interested in the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball position in 2027.
Kentucky is currently led by Mark Pope, who took over the program after the departure of John Calipari. The Wildcats remain one of college basketball’s premier programs, with eight NCAA Tournament championships, including titles in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998 and 2012.
Donovan’s name carries significant weight in the college game because of his success with Florida Gators men’s basketball. He won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 and built one of the most consistent programs in the country before moving to the NBA.
The 61-year-old coach stepped down from the Chicago Bulls on April 21, ending a six-season run in the NBA. Donovan finished with a 226-256 record in Chicago, ranking fourth in franchise history in wins, but the Bulls posted only one winning season under his leadership, going 46-36 in 2021-22.
Chicago reached the playoffs once during Donovan’s tenure and appeared in the NBA Play-In Tournament in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Bulls finished the 2025-26 season 31-51, missing the postseason and continuing a stretch of limited success.
