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Donovan, Gators Mum As Coach Awaits Old Job

By ANDY STAPLES The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 5, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The news vans rolled down University Avenue on Monday. They parked near the O'Connell Center and hoisted their satellite dishes, ready to deliver word that the prodigal coach had returned after a dalliance with the NBA that lasted less than a week. Instead, precious little happened.

No news conference. No leaks. No comment.

Meanwhile, in a gated community in southwest Gainesville, the winningest basketball coach in University of Florida history waited as his representatives tried to hammer out a deal that would allow him to return to his old job.

It's unclear whether Billy Donovan will have to pay a penalty to break the reported five-year, $27.5 million contract he signed with the Orlando Magic on Friday. That's for the lawyers to sort out. What is clear is that Donovan, who seemed thrilled by a new challenge during dual news conferences Friday, changed his mind Saturday morning and has been trying to escape his decision since.

Donovan does not intend to speak publicly until the situation is resolved. Assistant Larry Shyatt, who appeared at the front door at Donovan's house a few minutes after midnight Monday morning, told The Tampa Tribune as much.

Other than that, few are talking. For legal reasons, no one affiliated with Florida's athletic department will publicly admit that Donovan has changed his mind.

"On advice of [legal] counsel, I cannot comment," Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley said late Monday morning during an athletic department board meeting, "and I will not."

Florida officials are reticent to speak for fear of legal reprisal from the Magic. Magic officials, who, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, have set their sights on former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, are the only ones to publicly acknowledge the situation. The team released a statement early Monday morning.

"… people have been tugging at [Donovan] since [Friday]," the statement said. "Billy is conflicted with those emotions. … We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours, and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue."

Florida players and signees remained in limbo, as did the man Foley hoped to hire as Donovan's successor. Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant, the former Donovan assistant who was scheduled to interview Saturday for the Florida job, called VCU signee Myk Brown on Sunday to inform Brown that Florida still hadn't offered the job, Brown's coach and guardian, Mark Griseck, said Monday night.

Florida sophomore center Marreese Speights said he learned about Donovan's change of heart from family members who saw media reports about the situation.

"We're in the same boat as other people," Speights said. "We really don't know anything."

Correspondent Jenna Marina contributed to this report. Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@

tampatrib.com.