Why Donovan Wouldn't be a Good Choice for the Heat

UF has won the NCAA title, again, and believe me it is the worst possible nightmare for us Seminole fans. Now the Gators have two basketball championships and a football one sandwiched in there, too.

Yet, truth be told, I am glad to see a team from Florida get that kind of recognition - hats off to those damned Florida Gators, you worked hard and you deserve it.

Now, the aftermath. There is a lot of buzz about the Gators and where their individual players will draft - if they declare themselves eligible of course. Somewhere in the DLeague both Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson are pulling their hairs out amid the apathetic fans they are challenged with.

Then there is the future of Billy Donovan, the next big thing in college coaching. Actually, he is the big thing nowadays, building this UF program into a powerhouse. He is rumored to be offered the Kentucky job - for which I hope he proves himself to be a smart man and say "no" and stay at UF.

Of course, there is also the rumor that he could be next in-line to succeed Pat Riley, a friend and "colleague" as Riley states. This has been denied by Pat Riley himself, and everyone is starting to talk about it.

Further Reading:
Riley not courting Gators' Donovan
Donovan: Wrong man for the job

I agree it would be a mistake to hire Donovan as the Heat's next coach - and no, it isn't because I am a Seminole fan and couldn't stomach it (after all, I love UD and JWill playing on this team). It simply comes down to the fact that in the NBA, you have to be respected by the professional players that will be playing for you. In other words, you have to command as much fiscally in order to command them physically. You have to know and understand the professional game, too. Donovan is a college coach where he can implement a system and get his players to respond because it works and it is proven. At the NBA level, the talent does not drop off as sharply.

Besides, Stan Van Gundy, whom I argued was the perfect coaching candidate for the 2003-2004 Heat, was not respected by Shaq. This is what did him in as a coach, eventhough I still contend SVG would be a great successor to Pat Riley, but it might never happen now.

If SVG was not respected by Shaq, what makes anyone think Billy Donovan would be?

Still this should give Gator fans a lot of hope since the last time they saw one of their own beloved "ball coach" jump from their school to the pros, it backfired. Steve Spurrier could not acclimate his system to the NFL, and most likely Billy Donovan would follow the same fate as his idol Rick Pitino.