sports
Billy Donovan Agrees to Become Lead Assistant Coach for San Antonio Spurs
Billy Donovan will serve as lead assistant to head coach Mitch Johnson after stepping down from the Chicago Bulls in April. The 61-year-old Hall of Fame coach brings 11 seasons of NBA head coaching experience.
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Billy Donovan agreed to become the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under head coach Mitch Johnson, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Donovan, 61, joins the Western Conference champions after 11 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder.
He is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025 and won two college national titles with Florida in 2006 and 2007.
Donovan stepped down as Bulls head coach in April after six seasons. The team finished with a 226-256 record under him and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year in 2026. He previously spent five seasons with the Thunder, posting a 243-157 record and reaching the playoffs each year.
He replaces Sean Sweeney, who spent one season with the Spurs before becoming head coach of the Orlando Magic. Donovan was a finalist for that Orlando position along with Jeff Van Gundy. Donovan and Johnson share a strong personal relationship.
Donovan's son, Billy Donovan III, coached on the staff of the Austin Spurs, San Antonio's G League affiliate, in 2017.
