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Billy Donovan will go for a three-peat at Florida after saying Thursday he will remain the Gators' coach, effectively rejecting overtures from Kentucky to return there as the potential successor to Tubby Smith.
Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving a Florida program that he led Monday to the national championship for the second consecutive year.
"After finally having an opportunity to sit down with my family, and with [Florida athletic director] Jeremy Foley, I've decided that I will remain at the University of Florida," said Donovan, a former Wildcats assistant under Rick Pitino. "I have great respect for the University of Kentucky, its great history and tradition, and I had five wonderful years in Lexington. That being said, I'm very proud of what we've built here at the University of Florida and I look forward to continuing build on it."
Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan met Thursday, at which time Donovan said, 'This is my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [my wife] Christine and I'm not going anywhere."
"As a former UK assistant, we wish him the very best," Barnhart said in a statement. "Obviously, finding the right coach is more important than finding the next coach quickly. Patience remains a priority as we continue to identify the best individual to lead the Big Blue Nation."
Donovan and Foley will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan leaves the country Saturday.
Even before meeting with Foley, Donovan apparently had his mind made up. Donovan told some of his close friends Wednesday night that he would not be leaving Florida, according to a source close to Donovan.
Florida will release an official statement on Donovan's decision Thursday afternoon.
"Obviously we've been talking," Foley said. Donovan has two years remaining on his current contract. "Friday is about the celebration [for the title] and then he's [vacationing]. This is where he wants to be."
Donovan turned down a contract extension last spring after winning the 2006 national championship because he said he didn't feel right about it after four then-sophomores decided against declaring for the draft.
Barnhart left a message for Foley on Wednesday seeking permission to talk to Donovan, but Foley did not want a Donovan-Barnhart conversation to occur until speaking with Donovan himself.
Speculation has centered on Texas coach Rick Barnes as Kentucky's Plan B to replace Tubby Smith, who left the program in March for the job at Minnesota. Sources said Thursday that that speculation is accurate and that Barnes will seriously listen to Kentucky's pitch.
Scott McConnell, Texas' media contact for basketball, said there has been no formal contact between Barnes and Kentucky. McConnell said Barnes' schedule has him on campus Thursday planning offseason workouts, then flying to Los Angeles on Friday with Longhorns freshman forward Kevin Durant for the Wooden Award presentation. Texas' team banquet is scheduled for Monday.
Kentucky's search might also include Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Gonzaga's Mark Few.
Source: espn.com
Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving a Florida program that he led Monday to the national championship for the second consecutive year.
"After finally having an opportunity to sit down with my family, and with [Florida athletic director] Jeremy Foley, I've decided that I will remain at the University of Florida," said Donovan, a former Wildcats assistant under Rick Pitino. "I have great respect for the University of Kentucky, its great history and tradition, and I had five wonderful years in Lexington. That being said, I'm very proud of what we've built here at the University of Florida and I look forward to continuing build on it."
Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan met Thursday, at which time Donovan said, 'This is my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [my wife] Christine and I'm not going anywhere."
"As a former UK assistant, we wish him the very best," Barnhart said in a statement. "Obviously, finding the right coach is more important than finding the next coach quickly. Patience remains a priority as we continue to identify the best individual to lead the Big Blue Nation."
Donovan and Foley will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan leaves the country Saturday.
Even before meeting with Foley, Donovan apparently had his mind made up. Donovan told some of his close friends Wednesday night that he would not be leaving Florida, according to a source close to Donovan.
Florida will release an official statement on Donovan's decision Thursday afternoon.
"Obviously we've been talking," Foley said. Donovan has two years remaining on his current contract. "Friday is about the celebration [for the title] and then he's [vacationing]. This is where he wants to be."
Donovan turned down a contract extension last spring after winning the 2006 national championship because he said he didn't feel right about it after four then-sophomores decided against declaring for the draft.
Barnhart left a message for Foley on Wednesday seeking permission to talk to Donovan, but Foley did not want a Donovan-Barnhart conversation to occur until speaking with Donovan himself.
Speculation has centered on Texas coach Rick Barnes as Kentucky's Plan B to replace Tubby Smith, who left the program in March for the job at Minnesota. Sources said Thursday that that speculation is accurate and that Barnes will seriously listen to Kentucky's pitch.
Scott McConnell, Texas' media contact for basketball, said there has been no formal contact between Barnes and Kentucky. McConnell said Barnes' schedule has him on campus Thursday planning offseason workouts, then flying to Los Angeles on Friday with Longhorns freshman forward Kevin Durant for the Wooden Award presentation. Texas' team banquet is scheduled for Monday.
Kentucky's search might also include Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Marquette's Tom Crean, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Gonzaga's Mark Few.
Source: espn.com