Rick Pitino sends a message following the death of Billy Donovan’s father
The basketball world was hit by the news that Chicago Bulls head coach Billy DonovanHis father, Billy Donovan Sr., died. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino was one of the people yes convey a message to the masses, as he is a close friend of the family.
“They were no better than Billy Donovan Sr. A special man in every sense of the word. RIP my friend! You’re already in heaven,” Pitino wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Pitino coached Donovan Jr. when he was a player at Providence and later joined Pitta’s coaching staff at Kentucky.
Donovan’s father was a key part of his life and supported his basketball dreams until the end. He also took him to New York Knicks games when he was a kid.
“These last 15, 16 years for me — oh my gosh! — have been phenomenal,” Donovan Sr. said in a written story 2011 by GatorZone. “I played basketball growing up. When Billy was young, we watched the games on TV and I took him to see the Knicks. And now, to be able to be on the team and go to all the games and knowing that Billy wants me to be a part of it all, I’m so blessed I can’t even tell you.”
Donovan Sr. played college basketball at Boston College and scored more than 1,000 career points.
There’s no doubt that Donovan Sr. played a big role in his son’s life, and he’s still living it up as the Bulls’ coach.
There will likely be more people sending their prayers and condolences to the family in the coming days.
2026-02-15 19:41:00
