Billy Donovan will try to make the difficult transition from elite college basketball coach to successful NBA bench boss, as he was introduced as head coach of the Orlando Magic on Friday.

Donovan joins the Magic after 11 seasons and consecutive national championships with the University of Florida Gators.

Billy Donovan is followed by Magic general manager Otis Smith at Friday's press conference.
(John Raoux/Associated Press)

Donovan accepted a five-year deal worth $27.5 million US, an NBA official speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. He made $1.7 million last season at Florida.

"My decision to come here had nothing to do with the University of Florida," Donovan said Friday. "I think if I was to have left Florida for another college job, I think you could say, 'What was wrong?'

"This is a totally different environment, a different challenge, a different way of life, a different style altogether."

Donovan is the biggest name to go from college to the pros in several years. Several coaches haven't replicated success in the NBA, including Tim Floyd, John Calipari and Rick Pitino, who Donovan played for at the University of Providence in the mid-1980s.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski turned down a lucrative offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

Donovan said one priority for the Magic was finding a player who can score from the perimeter to help all-star Dwight Howard and seven-footer Darko Milicic. Donovan said he already had relationships with several players, and even unsuccessfully recruited the likes of Howard, Trevor Ariza and JJ Redick while at Florida.

"Certainly it's going to be an adjustment, but I've got to coach to my personality and how I feel comfortable," Donovan said. "A lot of guys on the team right now, there is some prior relationship."

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.

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.

With files from the Associated Press