June 2, 2007

Former Friar great Billy Donovan `87, who recently attended a gala in Providence to honor the 1987 Final Four Friars, was named the head coach of the Orlando Magic on Thursday, May 31. Donovan has spent the last 11 seasons at the University of Florida. He guided the Gators to the 2006 and the 2007 NCAA men's basketball titles.

Donovan, who agreed to a five-year deal to coach the Magic, will be the third Friar to coach in the NBA. Lenny Wilkens '60 coached six different teams over 32 seasons and ranks as the league's all-time winningest coach with more than 1300 victories. John Egan '61 was the other Friar who has coached in the NBA. He spent three seasons as the head coach of the Houston Rockets from 1973-1976.