Donovan ready for the challenge of the NBA

The Magic named Donovan head coach on Thursday, swaying the long-time college coach from the University of Florida with a reported five-year contract worth $27.5 million.

In Gainesville, he compiled a 261-103 mark over 11 seasons, leading the Gators to the national championship the last two years and a championship game appearance in 2000.

Earlier this offseason, he turned down a lucrative offer to become the head coach at the University of Kentucky, but apparently the opportunity in the NBA was too much for him to pass up.

"The easy decision would have been for me to stay at Florida," said Donovan. "Or I could take the next step and do something that would really challenge me as a person, as a coach, and help me grow, help me get better. I’ve always been intrigued by the NBA and the 24 hours of basketball."

He added that the past failures of college coaches in the NBA, including his mentor Rick Pitino, didn’t weigh into his decision. However, Donovan did lose his top seven scorers from the 2007 national championship team and an expected contract extension from the school was slow in developing.

"This decision had nothing to do with the University of Florida," he said.

Donovan said he first spoke on the phone last weekend when Magic general manager Otis Smith was gauging his interest in the job. Donovan later met with ownership and became sold on the direction that the team is moving.

"I really believe, here in Orlando, they have a chance to [win a championship]," said Donovan, who added he has relationships with most of the current players, including All-Star center Dwight Howard, a player he tried to recruit to Florida.

In 13 years of collegiate coaching, which included two years at Marshall before joining the Gators, Donovan compiled a 296-123 record.

In Orlando, he replaces Brian Hill, who was fired on May 23 after two consecutive losing seasons and a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs this season.