Billy Donovan's Top Landing Spots After Stepping Down as Bulls HC

Billy Donovan is a head coaching free agent after stepping away from the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls announced in a Tuesday statement that Donovan was parting ways from the organization after six seasons.

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement that Bulls originally wanted Donovan to stay as head coach.

His exit will allow whoever the Bulls hire to replace former front office executives Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley to build a new staff, Reinsdorf noted.

It could also allow Donovan to be considered by some head coaching jobs that could come open this season in both the NBA and NCAA.

Donovan is hitting the market having compiled a 226-256 overall record (.469 win percentage) with one playoff appearance through six seasons in Chicago.

Here's a look at some top potential landing spots for Donovan as the first round of the NBA playoffs gets underway.

Milwaukee Bucks

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The Milwaukee Bucks have some major decisions to make this offseason.

Not only has Doc Rivers stepped away as head coach, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was subject of trade talks at the deadline and could potentially be dealt to another team this summer.

The Bucks still paying Rivers at least $10 million next season, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Athletic's Eric Nehm and Sam Amick reported that as of April 20 the franchise had "registered serious interest" in former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins to take over for Rivers.

The news that Donovan and the Bulls are parting ways could potentially cause the Bucks to pivot in that head coaching search.

The question then could come down to whether Donovan, who parted ways with both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Bulls ahead of rebuilds, will want to take over for a franchise potentially set for a teardown should Antetokounmpo leave this summer.

University of Florida

Donovan coached Florida from 1996 to 2015, a span during which he made four Final Four appearances and won two NCAA titles.

There's a chance the Gators could be looking for a new head coach this season.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently expressed uncertainty as to whether he will return following his team's play-in elimination, and Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported Tuesday that the Warriors "love" current Florida coach Todd Golden.

"He's known the Lacob family for years, and league sources say they've long admired his coaching talent ever since he was an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco," O'Connor wrote about Golden.

O'Connor noted there is "no guarantee" that Golden would leave Florida for the Warriors. If he does, however, Florida could consider turning back to the winningest coach in their program's history for a second stint in Gainesville.

Orlando Magic

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The Orlando Magic made it out of the play-in tournament and into the playoffs.

That still might not be enough to save the job of coach Jamahl Mosley. NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported Mosley is likely to be out regardless of the Magic's ability to qualify for the playoffs.

The Magic are currently hold a 1-0 lead in their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons, however. Mosley could potentially change that narrative with a deep playoff run.

If Orlando ultimately suffers an early elimination and the franchise decides to part ways with Mosley, they could potentially turn back to Donovan, who the franchise previously attempted to hire shortly after he won a second consecutive NCAA title with Florida in 2007.

Donovan ultimately decided to return to college basketball, negotiated a release from his contract and went back to the NCAA.

Should the Magic sign him to a second contract, they would hope his NBA experience since that date would help Orlando recover from an underwhelming regular season prior to their current postseason run.

New Orleans Pelicans

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The Pelicans have been in need of a full-time head coach since firing Willie Green after a 2-10 start to the 2025-26 season.

The Athletic's William Guillory and Sam Amick recently reported the Pelicans are expected to consider promoting interim head coach James Borrego to the position after he led the team to a 24-46 finish to the campaign.

NBA insider Fischer has also named Mosley as a potential candidate for the job should he and the Magic part ways this offseason.

Both of those reports were published before the Bulls and Donovan announced they would be parting ways. The Pelicans could potentially expand their head coaching search to include Donovan, especially with Mosley's future in Orlando still uncertain.