If Billy Donovan waits, he could reshape next year's college basketball coaching carousel

Kentucky, Kansas and Florida could all be impacted if Donovan sits out this summer's NBA hiring cycle

Billy Donovan was one of a few highly coveted targets for UNC's job opening, but he never seriously engaged in the process while the Chicago Bulls were still playing. 

North Carolina ultimately pivoted to another coach with NBA ties in Michael Malone, but Donovan's willingness to at least keep the door cracked -- even informally -- marked a notable shift from how he has handled college overtures in recent years.

Now, with Donovan stepping down from his post as Bulls coach, the 60-year-old immediately becomes one of the most intriguing names on the coaching market. 

League sources expect multiple NBA openings to surface in the coming weeks, and Donovan -- a proven program-builder with both NBA and championship-level college experience -- is likely to be linked to several of them. As one source put it: "The guy wants to coach. He's going to be a head coach again."

That desire, paired with his résumé, gives Donovan leverage on both sides of the sport. If he prioritizes the NBA, he'll have options. Perhaps even splashy ones like Golden State, should Steve Kerr call it quits. 

"I don't know what's going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date," Kerr said after Golden State's season ended in the play-in game. 

If Donovan pauses or waits out this cycle, his presence will loom over the next wave of high-profile college openings.

And there could be several.

At Kentucky, Mark Pope enters the 2026-27 season under pressure despite a respectable two-year start that includes 46 wins and three NCAA Tournament victories. A looming change at athletic director only adds uncertainty to his long-term standing. 

At Kansas, there is growing industry curiosity about how much longer Bill Self intends to coach, with some around the sport privately wondering if the 2026-27 season could be his last. 

And at Florida -- where Donovan won two national titles and made four Final Fours, good enough to get his own name on the court -- Todd Golden remains a rising name, but one who could be pulled into bigger jobs at either the college or NBA level if he continues on his current trajectory.

All of that creates a scenario in which Donovan may have the leverage to shape next year's carousel, if he chooses to do so.

Bottom line: Donovan leaving Chicago will have ripple effects and spark speculation at both the NBA and college levels, and that won't stop until he makes a decision on where and when he chooses to coach next.