What’s Next for Billy Donovan After Stepping Down From the Chicago Bulls?

The Hall of Fame coach will have a bevy of suitors, and these are potential landing spots for Donovan in both the NBA and in college basketball.

Head coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second half against the Orlando Magic at the United Center in Chicago on April 10, 2026. Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images

For the second time in nine days, a Hall of Fame coach resigned from his post leading an NBA team, with Billy Donovan stepping down from coaching the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. Doc Rivers did the same last week, and while Rivers has indicated that he could be done coaching entirely, Donovan plans on continuing his coaching career.

Donovan, a two-time national champion at the University of Florida, was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. He has ties to both the pro and college games, and he will undoubtedly be one of the top candidates for either current openings or future ones at both levels. These are the top potential landing spots for Donovan in either the 2026-27 NBA season, or with all of the college jobs filled, for the 2027–2028 college basketball season.

Kentucky Wildcats

Donovan’s first coaching job came when he was 24 years old as an assistant at Kentucky. Things could come full circle as soon as 2027 if Mark Pope underperforms as head coach of the Wildcats. Pope is entering his third year at his alma mater, and each of the five prior UK coaches—who in each case lasted at least three seasons—made the Elite Eight by their third season with the program. Pope has yet to do that, so if Kentucky has another short stay in the 2027 NCAA Tournament, then the UK hierarchy could be looking elsewhere, and elsewhere could be digging into its past with Donovan.

Orlando Magic

Remember when Bill Belichick was the New York Jets’ head coach for all of one day? Many people forget, but that’s the exact same scenario that Donovan had with the Orlando Magic back in 2007. He was coming off back-to-back titles with the University of Florida and decided to leave that job, move 110 miles south, and join the Magic as their head coach. Donovan had his introductory press conference with Orlando on June 1 and then had second thoughts the next day and decided to remain with the Gators.