BOSTON – It would seem like a reboot of the “Odd Couple.” The upbeat, media-friendly Billy Donovan and the monotone “we’re on to Cincinnati” Bill Belichick. But it works and it has for some time, evident by the fact that the two were hanging out together in the hallways of the United Center minutes after the Bulls upset Denver on Monday.
Donovan and Belichick actually started their relationship back when Donovan was still coaching at Florida and Belichick was the Patriots head coach. “He was really gracious with his time with me when I was at Florida,” Donovan said on Wednesday. “We spent a lot of time (together), he spoke to several of our teams.
When Florida had their pro day in football it was generally around the SEC tournament, so he was always in for that. But we’ve maintained contact for a long period of time. He had texted me that he was going to be in town (Monday), so he just came by to say hello.
He’s been a good friend and someone who has been really gracious with his time.” The two also shared a rare feat in sports that they discussed often, and that was winning back-to-back championships in their respective professions. Donovan was asked if Belichick asked for any advice in going from the NFL to now coach in college at University of North Carolina, especially since Donovan went from college to pro.
In classic Donovan fashion, however, there was nothing he felt he needed to tell Belichick, especially with the college landscape what it is n.
