On Tuesday, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan could be headed for the exit door soon.
Momentum is building for Donovan to resign his post amid another failed season in Chicago.
The Bulls committed to tanking at the trade deadline, and the rebuild will not be as swift as a Hall of Fame coach might tolerate.
On Tuesday evening, a job that might pique the interest of Donovan opened up.
Per Pete Nakos of On3, North Carolina decided to part ways with Hubert Davis after No. 6 seed UNC blew a lead to No. 11 seed VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Donovan is expected to listen to an offer from UNC.
“One source told CBS Sports that Donovan would, at the very least, listen and be intrigued by the potential to coach at North Carolina,” Norlander wrote. “Donovan previously passed on courtships from other big college jobs, but North Carolina is the one school that Donovan has always held in especially high regard.”
Chicago Bulls could lose Billy Donovan to UNC
Dec 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs the team against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Donovan deserved to make the Basketball Hall of Fame, but it wasn’t for his effort in the NBA.
Donovan went 35-20 in two seasons at Marshall before taking over at Florida in 1996. He won two national titles with the Gators and went 467-186 at UF. He made the Final Four three times before jumping to the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Bulls have made the playoffs just one time since he joined in 2020. Chicago lost in the first round of the 2022 playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks.
It would make sense for Donovan to leave Chicago this offseason. He’d likely have more success with UNC than he would with another open NBA job during this hiring cycle.
And North Carolina could pay some big bucks.
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