Donovan: 'I'm ready to go forward'

KEVIN BROCKWAY
Sun sports writer (Gainesville Sun)
May 19. 2007

Florida coach Billy Donovan returned to town this week focused on trying to hire a new assistant coach.Then a report surfaced that he was close to signing the richest coaching contract in college basketball history."I was surprised to hear that," Donovan said.Donovan said Friday that negotiations are progressing on a contract extension, but a deal hasn't been finalized."I still think we're a bit a ways away," Donovan said. "I'm ready to go forward, but there's a process that's involved and I respect that process."On Thursday night, ESPN.com, citing an unnamed source, reported that Donovan was close to signing a seven-year contract extension worth an average of $3.5 million. That would put Donovan ahead of Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina's Roy Williams as the highest paid coach in college basketball. Both are believed to make an average annual salary of $3 million, which includes outside endorsements.On Friday, Donovan denied that those figures were accurate."To me, that's not what I've been told," Donovan said. "We haven't even gotten to that point yet."Donovan said that he has discussed parameters of a deal with athletic director Jeremy Foley. Any deal must be approved by the University Athletic Association compensation committee. Foley denied the report Thursday night, saying that he is still working on the athletic budget for next season.At some point, Donovan said that he will meet with Foley and University President Dr. Bernie Machen to continue negotiations. Donovan said that he will handle the negotiations alone with Machen and Foley, then have an attorney read over the contract language if a deal is finalized."There's no go-between person," Donovan said. "I've got to be the one that's making the decision."The meeting hasn't occurred yet because of Donovan's frenetic schedule since the end of the season last April. Donovan spent most of the rest of last month recruiting after losing his four starting juniors to the NBA draft.Last week, Donovan was in Ireland on a golfing trip with college friends. Then last weekend, Donovan attended a 20-year reunion commemorating the 1987 Providence basketball team that reached the Final Four.Donovan, who will turn 42 on May 30, guided Florida to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. Negotiations for an extension started after Florida won the first of its titles in 2006, but Donovan opted to put it off, saying he didn't want to cash in on the success of his returning players.Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer bypassed the NBA draft last year for a chance to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to repeat as national champions. Florida completed the mission with an 84-75 win over Ohio State last April in the NCAA Tournament Finals.In his 11 seasons at Florida, Donovan is 261-103, coaching the Gators to nine straight 20-win seasons and nine-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

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