Donovan staying with Florida, but star players depart

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida coach Billy Donovan wanted to stay. His star players knew it was time to go.\nDonovan spurned a chance to return to Kentucky and take over the tradition-rich program, saying Thursday he hopes to build the same in Gainesville.\nHe’ll have to do it without Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah. The four juniors will enter the NBA draft, saying they have accomplished all they could at Florida.\n“I’m happy and I’m sad,” Donovan said. “Happy because I’ve never seen a group of kids grow the way these guys have grown, and sad that I’m not going to have a chance to coach them anymore. ... I do not expect any of them back here next year. Their commitment, their focus, is trying to further their careers in the game of basketball.\n“When they put their minds to something they’re usually very, very successful at doing it.”\nDonovan and the foursome led the Gators to consecutive national championships, capping the coach’s 11 years and setting the foundation for a program he hopes will someday be mentioned with the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and UCLA.\nThe Gators became the first team to win back-to-back titles since Duke in 1992. But following Monday night’s 84-75 victory against Ohio State, Donovan’s future had become the biggest question mark surrounding Florida.\nDonovan acknowledged interest in the Kentucky job this week, saying he had a lot of admiration for the Wildcats. But he also said he intended to stay in Gainesville.\nHe proved it Thursday.\n“It’s all about where you’re at in life and what’s going to make you happy,” Donovan said. “I’m happy here at Florida. I love the University of Florida.”\nKentucky received permission to talk to Donovan about its coaching vacancy Wednesday. The coach and Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart spoke early Thursday morning.\nDonovan then met with Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and agreed to stay put.\n“We want to put basketball on the map here forever,” Foley said. “And there’s no question he’s the key component.”\nDonovan was the top choice to replace Tubby Smith, who left Kentucky last month to take the head job at Minnesota. Donovan spent five years as an assistant under Rick Pitino in Lexington, quickly learning about Kentucky’s unrivaled fan base and unrealistic expectations.\nBut he spent the last decade-plus in Gainesville, putting down roots with his wife and four children. He also turned a mediocre basketball program into a national power – at a place where football used to be king – and defied conventional wisdom held by his mentor, Pitino, his predecessor, Lon Kruger. Donovan has a 261-103 record at Florida.\nHe has two years remaining on his current contract worth $1.7 million annually, but was expected to sign a long-term extension “later this spring,” Foley said.