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Bill Donovan, Father of Bulls Coach, Passes Away at 85

2/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Bill Donovan, father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, died at 85 in Gainesville, Florida, as reported by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
He was a New York native who captained the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962 as the school's third-highest scorer.
Bill Donovan served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joan, for 63 years, with whom he had three children.
His son, Billy Donovan, led Providence to the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and coached Florida to two championships, later being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2023.

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Story summary

Bill Donovan, father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, died at 85 in Gainesville, Florida, as reported by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
He was a New York native who captained the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962 as the school's third-highest scorer.
Bill Donovan served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joan, for 63 years, with whom he had three children.
His son, Billy Donovan, led Providence to the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and coached Florida to two championships, later being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2023.