On the same day the Florida Gators Men’s Basketball team fights for a spot in the national championship game, the program received another monumental reason to celebrate:

On the same day the Florida Gators Men’s Basketball team fights for a spot in the national championship game, the program received another monumental reason to celebrate:.

former head coach Billy Donovan has been named a member of the 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class.

 

Donovan, a two-time NCAA champion with Florida, is one of the most influential figures in college basketball history. During his tenure in Gainesville from 1996 to 2015, he transformed the Gators from a respectable SEC squad into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, Florida captured back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007 — the only men’s program to do so in the 21st century — and made four Final Four appearances.

 

Beyond the hardware, Donovan’s impact was felt in the culture he created. Known for his relentless work ethic, player development, and team-first mentality, he coached future NBA stars like Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Bradley Beal. His ability to blend talent, toughness, and discipline made Florida a perennial title contender and one of the most feared teams in the nation during the 2000s.

 

After his legendary run at Florida, Donovan transitioned to the NBA, where he found success with the Oklahoma City Thunder and now serves as head coach of the Chicago Bulls. His Hall of Fame induction is a testament not only to his coaching résumé but to the legacy he leaves at every stop.

 

For Gator Nation, Donovan’s enshrinement in the Hall of Fame is more than a personal milestone — it’s a celebration of a golden era. And on a day when the current squad aims to write its own chapter in history, the honor couldn’t have come at a more fitting time. Congrats, Coach D. Once a Gator, always a Gator.