When one thinks of Florida Basketball, Billy Donovan is probably the first name that comes to mind. While Florida had success here and there prior to his arrival, no coach in program history has taken the Gators to the consistent heights that Donovan achieved during his time in Gainesville.
Donovan been recognized for his achievements and has officially been named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The announcement came Saturday, fittingly just hours before the Florida Gators returned to the Final Four for the first time since Donovan led them there in 2014.
Florida Basketball: Only The Best
Over 19 seasons at the University of Florida (1996–2015), Donovan transformed the program into a national powerhouse. He led the Gators to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, four Final Four appearances, six SEC regular season titles, and four SEC Tournament championships. His 467 wins at Florida rank second in SEC history, trailing only the legendary Adolph Rupp.
Under Donovan’s leadership, Florida became a model of consistency—posting 16 consecutive 20-win seasons and making 17 straight postseason appearances, including 14 NCAA Tournaments. Donovan was also the second coach in NCAA history to notch 500 Division I wins before turning 50.
A former Providence star and NBA guard, Donovan has spent the last decade in the NBA, with five seasons each coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls, compiling over 430 career wins at the professional level.
Donovan joins a star-studded 2025 Hall of Fame class that includes Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, and Maya Moore. The induction ceremony will be held September 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Todd Golden, the current coach of the Florida Gators, will take to the court in San Antonio tonight in the Final Four as the Gators will take on Auburn at 6:09 PM. The winner will move on to take on the winner of Duke vs. Houston.