FoxSports.com and ESPN.com reported Sunday night that Billy Donovan was having second thoughts about coaching the Orlando Magic and wants to return to the University of Florida, just days after leaving that job.
Orlando has a signed contract from Donovan and is making a decision about whether to let him out of the five-year, $27.5 million deal he signed Thursday, multiple sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night. Donovan led the Gators to consecutive national titles the past two seasons and was slated to sign a seven-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million annually. The deal was still in the process of being approved when he agreed to coach the Magic.
Donovan said after taking the Magic job that he had always been intrigued by the NBA and that Orlando was the perfect situation because it was an up-and-coming team and close to home.
According to ESPN.com, if the Magic does let Donovan out of the deal, it has to decide whether to enforce a financial penalty. Both sides aren’t talking publicly because of legal issues involved in such a decision. Donovan’s hiring Thursday prompted the sale of 200 Magic season tickets by Friday afternoon, ESPN.com said.
