Coaching The Pros Has Cons
Published: May 30, 2007
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Rick Pitino has a dream for his protege, Billy Donovan, the University of Florida men's basketball coach who has led the Gators to consecutive national titles.
"I want to go into that O'Connell Center and see it named 'Billy Donovan Court,'" said Pitino, the Louisville coach. "That's where it's headed. That's what he deserves.
"I hope he stays at Florida forever. I'd love it if he retired there. He's a legend already. He can be one of the all-time legends of college basketball."
Then comes the qualifier.
"I know there's a part of him that's curious about coaching in the NBA," Pitino said. "He's like me. He's like the rest of us.
"If it comes down to it, if he wants my suggestions, I'll tell him straight-up. I think I made a mistake."
Pitino isn't alone. If Donovan does eventually consider the NBA, he might first examine the cautionary tale of recent history. Elite college basketball coaches haven't performed - period - in several attempts at NBA jobs.
In 1997, Pitino was emperor of his sport. The Kentucky Wildcats came within an overtime period of repeating as national champions. Still, Pitino couldn't resist an offer to resurrect the Boston Celtics (15-67), particularly because there were excellent odds of landing franchise center Tim Duncan with the draft's No. 1 pick.
Pitino, once coach of the New York Knicks before joining Kentucky, bolted for the NBA.
Then the draft lottery's Ping-Pong balls conspired against him.
The San Antonio Spurs got Duncan. The Celtics never fully responded to Pitino's frenetic style. Midway through his fourth season, with no playoff appearances, Pitino resigned in frustration as the franchise's coach and president.
"That's the one that got everyone's attention," former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly said. "It's still basketball, sure. But let's not kid ourselves. College basketball and the NBA are two different worlds."
Donovan says he will soon sign a renegotiated contract with the Gators, significantly boosting his salary and recommitting himself to the college game. Until then - and maybe afterward - the NBA rumors will persist.
The Memphis Grizzlies made contact. Hopeful supporters of the Orlando Magic, who just fired Brian Hill, can only imagine the impact of hiring Donovan on the franchise (and perhaps the dialogue for a new arena). And what if Donovan's favorite childhood team, the New York Knicks, has an opening?
"Nothing would surprise me in this profession," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It's the highest form of basketball. You can never say never. At the same time, I think most of us [in college] feel like we can have a greater impact here than the NBA."
And sometimes, the financial impact is negligible. Multimillion-dollar contracts are now standard for coaches of powerful NCAA programs.
"You never want to make career decisions based on money," said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who was courted by the Atlanta Hawks after the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA title. "But they made the offer, and the money kept going up and up. It got crazy. I was intrigued.
"I just thought I was a better college guy, and I still feel that way. I just didn't feel good enough about it to make that leap."
Instead, the Hawks hired Illinois coach Lon Kruger, saying they were enamored with his teaching ability.
Three seasons later, Kruger was fired after going 69-122. He returned to college in 2004 and last season led UNLV to its first Sweet 16 appearance in 16 seasons.
"The losing got old in the NBA," Kruger said.
"If you win in the pros, it's a marvelous life," Pitino said. "If you lose, it's absolute misery. And the lifespan tops out at two or three seasons."
Pitino stopped short of unilaterally stating that college coaches can't succeed in the NBA.
"We always get the [bad] jobs, don't forget that," Pitino said. "College coaches never seem to get a situation like Phil Jackson or Pat Riley."
"What about the NBA coaches who fail - and then get hired again?" Izzo said. "Nobody seems to count them, do they?"
Maybe Daly said it best.
Two different worlds.
Recruiting, academics, navigating a one-and-done NCAA Tournament.
Dealing with high-priced players, the 24-second clock, rigorous travel and the 82-game schedule.
"Once I got to the NBA, I thought it was the way to go," Daly said. "You didn't have to recruit. You didn't have to worry about getting them to class. It was all basketball, and it was the best basketball in the world.
"Billy Donovan will eventually go [to the NBA], I think, just for the challenge of that."
If that's the case, Gator fans have a natural question.
When?
But considering recent college-to-the-NBA foibles, there's a more realistic query.
Why?
Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.
