Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 2:29:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Subject: Donovan Steps Down at FloridaDate: Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 2:25:50 PM Eastern Daylight TimeFrom: Steve McClain (sent by State Media List )To: State Media List

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONSFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETHURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015CONTACT: Denver Parler, 352-375-4683 ext. 6100

Donovan Steps Down at Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Billy Donovan has stepped down as head coach of the Florida men's basketball team to take thesame posi`on with the Oklahoma City Thunder, director of athle`cs Jeremy Foley announced on Thursday.

Donovan leaves Florida aber 19 seasons leading the men's basketball program to unprecedented levels of success,winning two na`onal championships, reaching four Final Fours and claiming six SEC `tles, pos`ng a 467-186 (.715)record with the Gators.

"While we are certainly extremely sad to see Billy go, the primary feeling I have is one of gra`tude for what he hasdone here at Florida," Foley said. "Billy and Florida basketball have been synonymous for a long `me now, and ourprogram would not have reached the heights it has without him. The legacy he leaves here is one of personal andprofessional excellence, and we wish him, Chris`ne and the Donovan family con`nued success and happiness as theymake this move. There is no befer person than Billy Donovan. He will truly be missed."

"I want to thank Jeremy Foley, the players, coaches and sta I've had the chance to work with during my `me atFlorida," Donovan said. "The administra`ve support and stability has been unbelievable here, and it is an incrediblydicult decision to leave that. I knew that it would take a unique opportunity to leave the University of Florida andthat is clearly how I look at this situa`on."

Donovan nishes his tenure at Florida with more wins at the helm of an SEC program (467) than anyone other thanAdolph Rupp, while his 35 NCAA Tournament wins rank at the top of SEC coaches. His win total is more than twicethat of any other coach in Florida history.

The Gators' back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 match Dukes (1991 and 1992) as the only teams to bringhome consecu`ve `tles since John Wooden's UCLA dynasty. With those championships under his belt at 41 years ofage, Donovan became the third-youngest coach to win mul`ple championships, joining Bob Knight (Indiana) and PhilWoolpert (San Francisco), who both reached the milestone at 40. Donovan also became the second person to reachthe Final Four as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach (Dick Harp).

Prior to Donovan's hiring, Florida had one SEC `tle in 77 seasons of play. He led the Gators to six in his 19 seasons,including three over his nal ve seasons in Gainesville. All four of Florida's SEC Tournament championships inprogram history also came under Donovan's leadership.

The Gators ascended to No. 1 in the polls for the rst `me on Feb. 3, 2003, and would reach the top spot in fourdierent seasons (not including 2005-06, in which UF was only No. 1 in the postseason poll), most recently during theteam's historic 30-game winning streak in 2013-14.

This past season, Donovan became the second coach in men's college basketball history to reach 500 Division I winsbefore his 50th birthday, doing so sooner than anyone but Knight.

"Like we have with other recent searches, we will have an internal working group that will iden`fy candidates to beour next head coach," Foley said. "I don't intend to put a `meline on our hire, but we will work hard to have the rightperson in place over the coming weeks."

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person in place over the coming weeks."

"Billy's legacy at the University of Florida is nothing short of stellar, said UF President Dr. Fuchs. "The wins andchampionships were great, but perhaps even more important, he took a personal interest in his student-athletes andpushed them to be their best in the classroom and in life. The en`re Gator Na`on is grateful for his nearly 20 years ofleadership, and we wish him the very best of luck in his new adventure."

March 27, 1996Donovan hired

November 22, 1996First win - 80-63 vs. UCF

Jan. 5, 1997First SEC win - 75-62 vs. Arkansas

March 11, 1999First NCAA Tournament win - 75-61 vs. Penn

March 17, 2000Mike Miller hits an over`me buzzer-beater to defeat Butler in the rst round of the NCAA Tournament, sparkingDonovan's rst Final Four run.

April 3, 2000Florida appears in the na`onal championship game for the rst `me ever, falling to Michigan State, 89-76.

Feb. 3, 2003Florida earns its rst No. 1 ranking in program history.

Nov. 19, 2004Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Al Horford combine for 22 points and Joakim Noah does not appear in the Floridadebut of the 2004 recrui`ng class, a win vs. Jacksonville.

March 13, 2005Florida claims its rst SEC Tournament championship with a 70-53 win vs. Kentucky, led by Maf Walsh's 26 points.

April 3, 2006Florida goes from unranked in the preseason to na`onal champions with a 73-57 win vs. UCLA. Florida showscharacteris`c balance with four players scoring double gures, led by Joakim Noah's 16.

April 2, 2007The Gators go back-to-back with an 84-75 win vs. Ohio State, joining Duke (1991-92) as the only teams post-Woodento win consecu`ve na`onal championships. Once again, four Gators score double gures in the `tle game, led by AlHorford, who posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

March 8, 2011For the rst `me in his career, Donovan is named SEC Coach of the Year aber leading the Gators to the SEC `tle. Hewould repeat the COY/SEC champion combo again in 2013 and 2014.

March 8, 2014Florida defeats Kentucky, 84-65, to complete the rst 18-0 SEC schedule in league history. Eight days later the Gatorswould win the SEC Tournament, Donovan's and UF's fourth, to complete a 21-0 mark vs. SEC opponents.

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March 29, 2014The Gators win their 30th straight game, topping Dayton 62-52 to earn a trip to the 2014 Final Four. UF nished theseason 36-3, a school record for most wins in a season.

Feb. 28, 2015Donovan wins his 500th career game, joining Bob Knight as the only coaches to reach that milestone before their50th birthday.

Florida BasketballBefore & With Donovan

Before(77 seasons)

With(19 seasons)

NCAA Championships

0

2

Na`onal Championship Game Appearances

0

3

Final Fours

1

4

NCAA Tournament Appearances

5

14

NCAA Tournament Wins

4

35

20-Win Seasons

5

16

30-Win Seasons

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0

3

SEC Championships

1

6

SEC Tournament Championships

0

4

First-Round NBA Drab Picks

0

9

Wins/Year Average

11.5

24.6

Steve McClainSenior Associate Athle`c Director, Communica`onsUniversity of FloridaUniversity Athle`c Associa`onOce - (352) 375-4683 ext. 6115E-mail - stevem@gators.u.eduTwifer - @GatorZoneNews@GatorZoneFB