© © Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Former Florida Gators recall what Billy Donovan was like as a college coach - "He wants to make you better and he wants to win"
As March Madness recently ended with the UConn Huskies prevailing over the San Diego State University Aztecs, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan could not help but reminisce about the 19 years he spent coaching the Florida Gators—a team that featured the likes of Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Cory Brewer and won back-to-back NCAA national titles in 2006 and 2007.
More than the success, though, Horford said what stuck with him the most through the years was Donovan's genuine care for his players, on and especially off the floor.
"One of the things I appreciate about coach is he cares about his players. He wants to make you better and he wants to win. And when you have a coach that you know has your best interest as a player, you want to impact winning for him. That's what he's about," said Horford.
Bringing in Ric Flair
Horford recalled the time when Donovan, as a motivational ploy, brought in wrestling legend Ric Flair to the locker room to fire up his team before their Final Four game against George Mason University.
"He used to always do that Ric Flair thing. You know, that scream, "Wooo!" He'd break the ice sometimes because we were a little tense in there. So before the (2006) semifinal game against George Mason, we hear him "Wooo!" and we're like, 'Yeah, coach, that's pretty weak.' But then next thing we knew, he had asked Ric Flair to come into our locker room," shared Horford.
"And I'll tell you we were ready to run through a wall after that. We were so excited. Flair was dressed up. We were all so hyped. Billy is a great motivator and just random. I thought that was pretty cool."
Excellent communicator
Winning basketball games is always important, but apart from that, Noah said keeping relationships is just as crucial to Donovan and his family.
"He's a top-notch communicator. He's somebody who keeps relationships. Not just him but also his wife. Still when I see her, I get a big batch of cookies, the same ones I used to get my freshman year. It's the family vibe that he always put together," shared Noah.
