Florida begins search for Donovan’s replacement

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida’s search to replace basketball coach Billy Donovan began weeks – really months- ago.

The Gators have been collecting information on potential successors since at least February, probably even sooner.

Although athletic director Jeremy Foley said Monday he would sit down with his search team later in the day and discuss potential candidates, he made it clear that school officials have been planning for Donovan’s departure for some time.

Foley says the process only intensified when the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks on April 22.

He says, "We heard some undercurrents that this (was) a possibility, so we began looking at coaches probably several weeks ago."

Donovan was introduced at his new job Friday.