7 potential candidates to be the next HC if Mike Woodson is fired

Billy Donovan

It is paramount for Indiana not only to get this coaching search right, but to hire someone with relevant coaching experience. Woodson was a former Hoosier player and remains an important part of the program’s history, but his lack of collegiate coaching experience was a blemish that was clearly ignored four years ago. However, there is a very relevant name currently coaching in the NBA that would suit their interests.

Donovan played point guard under Rick Pitino at Providence and later began his coaching career on Pitino’s Kentucky staff in the early ’90s. After brief success in his head coaching debut at Marshall, Donovan would spend 19 years building tremendous wealth down in Gainesville, taking Florida to a pair of national championships and four Final Four appearances. Donovan left for the NBA in 2015, spending five years with the Oklahoma City Thunder and is now in his fifth year as the manager of the Chicago Bulls.

Out of college ball for a decade, there may be some concerns about Donovan having to adjust to the college game, let alone if he even wants to delve into the world of the NIL and the transfer portal. Life in this sport was a lot different for coaches when he left Florida in 2015. The price wouldn’t be cheap to lure someone like Donovan back to the college game, and it really comes down to mutual interest. Donovan is likely content to continue his career in Chicago, but he’s worth a call.