Billy Donovan bolts Gators to coach Magic

Last Updated: Thursday, May 31, 2007 | 7:15 PM ET

CBC Sports

Billy Donovan is leaving the Florida Gators to become head coach of the Orlando Magic.

Donovan, 42, reached terms Thursday on a five-year, $27.5-million US contract with Orlando.

Billy Donovan agreed Thursday to be the head coach of the Orlando Magic.
(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

He was making $1.7 million US annually at the University of Florida.

"Billy Donovan is a winner," Magic general manager Otis Smith said in a statement.

"We feel he's the right person to develop and maximize the talents of our players. We look forward to Billy leading us to the next level."

Donovan replaces Brian Hill, who was fired May 23 by Orlando.

Hill, the winningest head coach in franchise history, posted a 40-42 record this season and led the Magic to the playoffs for the first time in four years, only to be swept by the Detroit Pistons in the opening round.

Donovan led the Gators to their second straight national collegiate championship this season, downing Ohio State 84-75 in the final.

Florida clobbered UCLA 73-57 in last year's final.

"We certainly wish this run could have gone on forever," Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. 

"It's been an incredible privilege to be a part of. We're indebted to Billy Donovan.

"We hired him 11 years ago to build Florida basketball and he did that beyond anyone's expectations. We'll miss him."

Donovan is one of three men to compete in the Final Four as a player and capture an NCAA title as a head coach, joining Bobby Knight and Dean Smith.