Suddenly, Billy Donovan finds himself as, in his words, “the only one standing.”
Less than two weeks after associate head coach Larry Shyatt left to become Wyoming’s head coach, Donovan announced Tuesday that assistant coaches Richard Pitino and Rob Lanier would be leaving the program for similar positions at Louisville and Texas, respectively.
But two of those vacancies have already been filled, as John Pelphrey and Norm Roberts agreed to step into assistant roles at UF.
In an effort to maintain continuity on a completely new staff, Donovan chose to bring back Pelphrey, who was an assistant under Donovan at Florida from 1996-2002.
Pelphrey’s experience in the Southeastern Conference and recruiting ties throughout the region will be valuable assets, as he served as the head coach at Arkansas from 2007 until he was fired in March.
“John knows the league, and he knows what I’m going to be looking for and wanting in recruiting,” Donovan said.
Although Donovan and Roberts have never worked together, they do share a level of familiarity.
The two were born in New York less than two months apart, and Roberts was recommended to Donovan by many people as an elite recruiter with strong character. That helped make Roberts an easy choice for Donovan.
Roberts, who coached at St. John’s from 2004-2010, also served on Kansas coach Bill Self’s staff at four schools: Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas.
“He has an impeccable reputation as a great guy,” Donovan said. “I think he’ll be great for our program.”
Donovan spoke just as highly of the coaches leaving his staff, as Pitino and Lanier received opportunities that will advance their careers and put them in better personal situations.
“If you’re successful, and you have a lot of success, that’s what really opens up the doors of opportunity,” Donovan said. “When you go after good people, and you have good people, sometimes those things are going to happen, and you don’t have control over it.”
Pitino, who is expecting the birth of his first child within the next week, will be returning to Louisville to serve as an assistant to his father, Rick.
Donovan played under the elder Pitino at Providence and in the NBA with the Knicks before joining him as an assistant at Kentucky.
“I’ve known (Richard) since he was 4 years old,” Donovan said. “To get an opportunity to work with him like that meant a lot to me, but I’m also excited for him that he’s going to be reunited with his family and reunited with his dad.”
Donovan tabbed the 28-year-old Richard as the potential coach-in-waiting at Louisville and put the same tag on Lanier at Texas.
Donovan said Lanier’s move was strongly motivated by the strong ties he and his wife developed to the Austin area when he served as an assistant at Texas from 1999-2001.
With Lanier, Pitino and Shyatt all departing, one vacancy still remains on the Florida staff.
Donovan did not name any specific candidates for the final spot but said he has been looking at plenty of names, and the interest in joining UF’s coaching staff has been “overwhelming.”
As for those already on staff, Donovan said Pelphrey and Roberts would waste little time developing relationships with current and future Gators.
“The recruiting period starts Friday, so those guys will be on the road,” Donovan said. “We’ll get right back at it.”
DONOVAN POSTPONING DECISION: Donovan said Tuesday his decision on the futures of Erik Murphy and Cody Larson, who are suspended from the team after being arrested Sunday, will have to wait until he gathers more information.
At this point, Donovan said, he knows nothing other than what has been reported by the media.
“I really believe at the end of this process the truth is going to come out,” Donovan said. “From that truth, I’ll have a chance to react.”
