Chicago Bulls: 3 positives to the Billy Donovan hire

Extensive experience

Though he’s only had one head coaching gig in the NBA, Donovan brings decades of experience to the Bulls. After having a cup of coffee in the Association in the 1980s, Donovan went immediately into coaching and was hired as an assistant under Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky.

Pitino and Donovan would help lead the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1993.

Not long after, Donovan was hired to be the head coach at Marshall University at just 28 years of age.

He would have two solid seasons before being returning to the SEC to take the head coaching position at the University of Florida, where he would spend the next18 seasons. Donovan led the Gators to four Final Fours, two National Championships and a 467-186 record.

Donovan then left the NCAA after leading Florida to the Final Four in 2015 to take the head coaching job for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his first year as an NBA coach, the Thunder would advance to the Conference Finals.

Donovan and the Thunder would lose in the first round for the next four years after the departure of Kevin Durant.

Though he’s yet to lead an NBA team to the promised land, Donovan has a wealth of experience and success at both the NCAA and NBA level. He has coached superstars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Chris Paul. He’s coached at the biggest stage and has helped recruit superstars at both levels.

That experience will be huge for a team looking to develop young players, add superstars and finally compete at the highest level once again.