Billy Donovan Just Walked Away From the Bulls, and the College Basketball Dominoes Are Already Falling

Billy Donovan is a free agent. That's huge. The 60-year-old two-time national champion just stepped down from the Chicago Bulls coaching job, and now the entire basketball world is holding its breath to see what he does next. Here's the thing though: if he doesn't move fast, he's about to reshape the entire college coaching carousel for 2027.

The Market Just Got Real Interesting

Multiple NBA openings are coming in the next few weeks, and Donovan's name will be connected to all of them. This is a guy who has proven he can build programs at both the NBA level and the college championship level. Sources told CBS Sports that Donovan wants to coach again, plain and simple. "The guy wants to coach. He's going to be a head coach again," one source said. That's not a maybe. That's a certainty.

And it's not just any NBA job that could come calling either. If Steve Kerr steps down at Golden State, which he acknowledged is possible after their season ended in the play-in game, Donovan could be in the mix for something splashy. But here's where it gets interesting: Donovan has already shown he's willing to keep college doors cracked open, even informally. When UNC's job opened up in late March and early April, Donovan didn't shut it down completely, even while the Bulls were still playing. That's different from how he's handled college overtures in the past.

But What If He Waits?

This is where the real dominoes start falling. If Donovan passes on coaching next season and waits until 2027, everything changes at three major programs. At Kentucky, Mark Pope is facing serious pressure despite a solid two-year start with 46 wins, a No. 3 seed, a No. 7 seed, and three NCAA Tournament victories. A looming change at athletic director only makes his job shakier. At Kansas, there's industry buzz about whether Bill Self, one of the greatest college coaches ever, will hang it up after next season. He acknowledged the retirement possibility after Kansas lost to St. John's in the second round, but he announced his return earlier this month.

Then there's Florida. You know, the place where Donovan won two national titles and made four Final Fours. The court literally has his name on it. Todd Golden has the preseason No. 1 team coming in next season thanks to Thomas Haugh's return. If that team performs and Golden gets NBA interest, his buyout is way more manageable than it used to be. If Golden leaves and Donovan is sitting on the sideline waiting for his next opportunity in March 2027? Well, you see where this is heading.

The bottom line: Donovan leaving Chicago will create ripple effects at both levels. This speculation won't stop until he tells us where he's coaching next and when he's coaching it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.