Florida Legend Donovan Elected To 2025 Naismith Hall Of Fame Class

Billy Donovan, a coaching icon in Gainesville and one of college basketball’s most respected figures, is officially headed to Springfield, Mass.

The former Florida Gators coach was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Saturday, solidifying his place among the sport’s all-time greats. Donovan spent 19 seasons at the helm of the Florida men’s basketball program from 1996 to 2015. There, he built a legacy that transformed the Gators into a national powerhouse.

A Legacy Built in Gainesville

Under Donovan, Florida reached new heights. He led the program to two national championships (2006, 2007), four Final Four appearances, and a total of 467 victories. That’s he second-most in SEC history behind only legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp.

The announcement fittingly came on the same weekend Florida returned to the Final Four for the first time since Donovan’s 2014 squad, a nod to the culture of excellence he built in Gainesville.

From Underdogs to Elite

Donovan’s coaching résumé is stacked: six regular-season SEC titles, four conference tournament championships and an incredible run of 16 consecutive 20-win seasons. Florida earned a postseason berth in 17 straight years during his tenure, including 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and six trips to the Elite Eight between 2006 and 2014.

Before Donovan, Florida basketball had limited historical success. That all changed when former UF athletic director Jeremy Foley hired the then-30-year-old coach from Marshall in 1996. What followed was a nearly two-decade run that brought a new level of credibility and national respect to the Gator program.

Historic Moment and Milestones

In 2000, Donovan’s Gators reached their first national championship game. Just six years later, they captured back-to-back titles, becoming the first team to repeat in 15 years and only the seventh to do so in NCAA history.

Donovan made a habit of reaching milestones ahead of the curve. In 2015, just before his departure for the NBA, he became the second coach in Division I history to win 500 games before turning 50, joining coaching legend Bob Knight.

Long before Gainesville, Donovan was already winning — whether as a standout guard at Providence, helping lead the Friars to the 1987 Final Four, or as a young assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky. He even made a brief stint with the New York Knicks before making the transition to coaching full-time. His early head coaching success at Marshall quickly proved he had what it took to lead a big-time program.

His influence on SEC basketball is undeniable. Florida had just one conference title in its entire history before Donovan arrived. By the time he left, the Gators had captured six. That including an impressive stretch with three outright titles in four seasons (2011, 2013, 2014), a feat unmatched in the league outside of Kentucky.

A Lasting Impact — From College Sidelines to NBA

Donovan’s impact extended beyond college basketball. After stepping down from UF in 2015, he made the leap to the NBA. There, he coached five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder and now in his fifth year leading the Chicago Bulls. Across both stints, he has tallied over 400 professional wins.

Now, as his Hall of Fame induction nears, Donovan’s legacy is secure. He didn’t just build a winning program at Florida he built a tradition.

The 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony will be held on Sept. 6 in Springfield. Joining Donovan will be Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Team, Danny Crawford and Micky Arison.