Part One discusses the crucial differences between the NBA and the college game. One’s built on a foundation of assets and tactics. The other’s built on a foundation of relationships. All those matter in both, but not in the same proportions. In college, checking the off-court boxes matters more than being an elite tactician.
Let’s pick back up with this: Donovan has not been a stand-out NBA coach. In 11 seasons as a NBA coach, Billy Donovan won more than 50 games once, his first with the Oklahoma
City Thunder. They won two playoff series that season before losing in the conference finals. Since then, Donovan has failed to hit 50 wins. He’s posted five losing seasons in his last 10. He’s missed the NBA playoffs five times out of 10, in a league where 16 of 30 teams make the first round. The five times Donovan has made the playoffs, he’s exited in the first round. Three of those first round exits ended 4-1. In the last 10 years, Donovan’s 8-20 in first round games.
Yes, a lot of that can be laid at the feet of the Bulls’ front office. On the other hand, Donovan could have gone back to the college game when the Oklahoma City Thunder decided to part ways. Donovan didn’t have to sign an extension with the Bulls last year; he could have returned to college then as well. He chose not to. So, the question becomes, “Why now?”
The Bulls blew up their roster late this season, signaling a rebuild. Reporting by the Chicago Sun-Times paints a picture of a GM and a head coach who don’t see eye to eye on how much say Donovan should have in that process. Meanwhile, Donovan’s agent has been aggressively courting UNC. On top of that, the Chicago Sun-Times suggested Donovan might just take a year off to figure out what he wants to do. That same day, UNC dismissed Davis.
So, to review:
- We have a coach who left the college game 11 seasons ago amid reports of burn-out and frustration with recruiting and booster relations.
- We have a coach possibly leaving the Bulls amid reports of frustration with his front office.
- We have a coach who won two national titles at Florida two decades ago. For context, Nick Saban was just getting started at Alabama when Donovan won it all.
- We have a coach who’s earned respect in the NBA but not accomplished much in the results department.
Again: Donovan might kill it in a return as a college coach. None of this attempts to preclude that possibility.
On the other hand, what does Donovan really want? One day he walks away from a program he built from the ground up, appearing exhausted. He lands with the Thunder and lasts there five seasons before mutually parting ways. After six seasons with the Bulls, the two appear amenable to a separation. At this moment in time, Donovan seems open to returning to the Bulls if he gets more influence. He also seems open to not coaching at all for a year. He’s expressing interested in UNC. Is that really what we need in the first coach outside the “UNC family” in 70 years?
Yes, we need a coach who can draw up plays and exploit matchups with the best of them. Here’s what we also need, even more: someone with a passion for off-court leadership as UNC moves into a new era. The Carolina job, especially at this moment in time, is about way more than who we think draws up the best plays. We need a level of leadership on and off the court that Donovan walked away from at Florida. It’s a huge question.
Winning will be necessary, but it likely won’t be sufficient. Lots of coaches can win at UNC. Davis, for all his faults, won at a .698 clip. The issue wasn’t Davis ceiling. The problem was Davis’ floor and his reluctance to be an off-court leader of the UNC program.
Donovan probably fixes the floor issue. I have serious doubts about Donovan relative to the off-court leadership issue. He walked away from the pressure cooker of Florida basketball circa 2015. The pressure cooker of UNC basketball circa 2026 makes that look like child’s play.
We’re hiring outside the family for the first time in most fans’ lifetime. The arena debate and the dismissal of of Davis put some deep tensions in stark relief. Anxiety about the program’s stature and trajectory persists. We know for certain the next coach won’t have the luxury of focusing on “strictly basketball.” The job ahead requires so much more than that.
A coach with NBA tactical acumen would be certainly be welcome. However, it won’t be enough. We need a coach eager to lead – not just coach – UNC basketball. That means the entire UNC community: alums, boosters, and fans, in addition to the roster and staff. Can Billy Donovan be all that in addition to an elite tactician? Perhaps, but that wasn’t the Billy Donovan that left Florida. It’s not been required of Donovan in the NBA. We have no evidence for it.
If it can’t be Tommy Lloyd or Dusty May, then proceed with extreme caution with the candidate listed just behind them.
