April 4, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Former Providence College men's basketball star Billy Donovan '87 directed his Florida Gators to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship posting a 73-57 victory over UCLA Monday night, April 3.

With the win, Donovan becomes just the third PC alum to lead a collegiate program to a national championship as he joins Ray Treacy '82 and John Thompson '64. Treacy directed the Providence women's cross country program to a national championship in 1995, while Thompson led the Georgetown Hoyas to a men's basketball title in 1984.

Head Coach Billy Donovan became the third person to play in a Final Four (for Providence in 1987; third-place finish) and then win an NCAA Championship as a coach. Bobby Knight and Dean Smith are the other coaches to win national titles after playing in a Final Four.