After winning $100,000 for children's health last year, basketball coach Billy Donovan is back in the game.
This year, Donovan will participate in ESPN's second Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge. He is vying to get enough online votes to raise money for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, which donates money to the expansion of Shands Hospital for Children at UF. He supported the same cause last year.
Fred Demarest, UF assistant athletics director and spokesman, said the foundation remains an important charity to Donovan.
"It's a charity that's very close to his heart," Demarest said.
The number of participating coaches jumped to 48 from last year's 14.
As of Tuesday, Donovan was in second place in the southern region, with 23 percent of the votes.
Voters can pick one coach per region online at ESPN's website each day until Feb. 27. Voting among the final four will continue until March 8.
Each coach will earn $5,000 for his charity of choice, and the winning coach's charity will receive $100,000.
Last July, the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation used money from the competition to create a new pediatric emergency room at Shands at UF, said Linda Michalisin, a spokeswoman for the foundation.
"Coach Donovan's support has been critical," she said.
