We never offered Donovan the UK HC position

Timmy2Dads

Redshirt
Jul 26, 2021
10
37
13
Donovan admitted as much. Yet another reason to dislike MB. BCG was the target all along, like my friend said all those years ago.

View attachment 1248648
Tbf that quote says he never had “official contact.” So I suspect there were conversations but they were either under the table, through his agent, didn’t get to the point involving paperwork, or some combination of the some, all, or more than what I listed.

Not defending MB or his hiring decisions. But I do get suspicious when high profile people use the word “official” when denying things.
 

Kyfan96

Freshman
Feb 24, 2016
47
89
18
Donovan admitted as much. Yet another reason to dislike MB. BCG was the target all along, like my friend said all those years ago.

View attachment 1248648
We only took BCG because he said he would take the job. Timeline is too coincidental. He was quoted on the 6:00pm Sports Center saying he'd accept the Kentucky job if offered. Next day he was announced as the new coach. Then found out he had been flown in late the night before to meet with Mitch and Capiluoto.
So basically Mitch saw Sports Center that night and flew him in, just because he knew he'd say yes.
 

kfwa

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
425
793
93
I remember KSR saying Rick Barnes was on the short list and was MB's choice,

I also don't believe that Donovan didn't have communication with UK about the job. You have to remember Donovan's state of mind back then. He accepted the Magic job, held a press conference and then told them he changed his mind and wanted to stay at Florida.

He wanted to be wanted but wasn't ready to commit.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,149
98,075
113
My favorite type of UK fan (in a clownish way) is the type who diminishes Kentucky by claiming a bunch of coaches simply don't want to be here. That was the narrative with Donovan after Tubby left. It's the narrative now regarding head coaches.

These fans claim that the pressure at Kentucky just isn't worth it.

They forget that the extra $3 million/year UK can pay a coach can drown out a lot of voices. Kentucky fans are always wonderful to head coaches when they see them in public. That was even the case for BCG, who was treated l like a celebrity in public even at the end of his tenure here.

I think the "pressure" aspect is overplayed by our fans who ask the question if they could handle the job. The elite coaches are used to pressure. They don't think like normal "ah shucks" UK fans. You people think Lexington is any more pressure than what Donovan is facing in Chicago with its media and how they absolutely crucify the Bulls on radio here (I live near Chicago)? The media in Lexington is tame compared to what the Chicago media is capable of.

The "pressure" has always been something of a mythical monster for simpleton UK fans who don't see the world beyond the bluegrass state. Pressure is everywhere if you choose to pay attention to it.
 

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,106
26,142
113
Tbf that quote says he never had “official contact.” So I suspect there were conversations but they were either under the table, through his agent, didn’t get to the point involving paperwork, or some combination of the some, all, or more than what I listed.

Not defending MB or his hiring decisions. But I do get suspicious when high profile people use the word “official” when denying things.
Mitch sent Donovan a triangular folded note with “Do you like me?” And two boxes to check labeled “yes” and “no.”
 

notFromhere

Heisman
Sep 7, 2016
22,605
67,524
113
We only took BCG because he said he would take the job. Timeline is too coincidental. He was quoted on the 6:00pm Sports Center saying he'd accept the Kentucky job if offered. Next day he was announced as the new coach. Then found out he had been flown in late the night before to meet with Mitch and Capiluoto.
So basically Mitch saw Sports Center that night and flew him in, just because he knew he'd say yes.

Lol. That's funny

Accept my buddy was told about BCG being THE CHOICE if Tubby left, while Coach Smith was still coach. Posted about it back then. I didn't believe him. Was majorly PSSDOFF when it turned out to be true (BCG hired), but everyone swore he was FOS, when he also said BD wasn't offered the job.

This tells you he wasn't.
 
Jul 6, 2025
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If he approached him and was told we had to wait till the end of their playoff run, that's just another dead giveaway he's going to string us along again.

It isn't like Billy d was unfamiliar with the program, campus, etc. He had every bit of info he needed to make a decision. Not making a decision, was a decision.

Mitch sucks but im glad he refused to let billy d string us along again.
 

Tim0808

All-Conference
Apr 4, 2013
725
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We only took BCG because he said he would take the job. Timeline is too coincidental. He was quoted on the 6:00pm Sports Center saying he'd accept the Kentucky job if offered. Next day he was announced as the new coach. Then found out he had been flown in late the night before to meet with Mitch and Capiluoto.
So basically Mitch saw Sports Center that night and flew him in, just because he knew he'd say yes.
But he was having second thoughts. He postponed signing the contract for a few days.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,880
60,945
113
It's a long shot..

But it does seem that Donovan maybe had at least a little interest in taking the UNC job this go around. Couple that with this tidbit that we never offered (and therefore never was turned down), and the fact that next year will be another rebuilding year for the Bulls... Hell, shoot your shot next year Kentucky. What once felt like a 0% chance.. who knows, maybe a 15% chance of him coming now lol.

All that said, I still don't know if Billy D has the ability or the desire to coach in this NIL era. I'm really not sure he's the homerun hire everyone thinks he's going to be, just because he won b2b titles with the same team the 2nd year..
 
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MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,770
21,140
66
We only took BCG because he said he would take the job. Timeline is too coincidental. He was quoted on the 6:00pm Sports Center saying he'd accept the Kentucky job if offered. Next day he was announced as the new coach. Then found out he had been flown in late the night before to meet with Mitch and Capiluoto.
So basically Mitch saw Sports Center that night and flew him in, just because he knew he'd say yes.

One slight correction. Lee Todd was UK president in 2007. Eli didn’t come until Cal had been here a while.
 
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