It was a really difficult public situation for him because Billy, as I just mentioned, is a very principal person and very much about his word and about his commitment.

And he gave the Orlando Magic his word that he would be their head coach.

They even had an introductory news conference.

And then he woke up the next morning and it just didn't sit right.

And he fixed it as best he could.

He's been always very thankful to the Orlando Magic for allowing him to change his mind

and go back to Florida.

And I remember that time.

That was really messy.

It's Casey Johnson on with Mully and Haw talking about Billy Donovan in the summer of

2007.

What a crazy moment that was for anybody in the sports business or paying attention.

Billy Donovan coming off back-to-back titles at Florida gets announced as the head

coach of the Orlando Magic. He was also being courted by Kentucky. Like they were, I don't

think that they ever offered him the job, but they were interested in him. There are some parallels,

right? Where now North Carolina never really offered him the job.

But they probably talked.

You can bet they probably talked.

You can bet he probably talked with Kentucky.

Summer 2007, Billy Donovan, currently your head coach of the Bulls, took the Orlando job,

and he and Otis Smith, the general

manager, sat down for a press conference and greeted the media. And the next morning, Billy's

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