Rick Pitino (left) and Bill Donovan (right) enjoy a college basketball game together in 2009.
Rick Pitino (left) and Bill Donovan (right) enjoy a college basketball game together in 2009.Phil Sandlin/Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Bill Donovan, the father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan whose own basketball exploits propelled him to the Boston College Hall of Fame, has died. He was 85.
Bill Donovan died Saturday, according to the obituary posted by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville, Florida.
A native of Queens, New York, Donovan captained the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962 as the No. 3 scorer in school history. He was just the fourth 1,000-point scorer in BC history and known for his outside shooting, though he played before the NCAA implemented a 3-point line.
He was a first lieutenant in the US Army and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joan, for 63 years.
They had three kids, including Billy, who helped Providence reach the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and coached Florida to 14 NCAA tournament appearances in 19 years and back-to-back championships in 2006-07.