Boston College standout Bill Donovan, father of Bulls head coach, passes away.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Bill Donovan, the father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan and a notable figure in basketball who earned a place in the Boston College Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 85.
Bill Donovan passed away on Saturday, as noted in the obituary released by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville, Florida.
Born in Queens, New York, Donovan served as captain of the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962, ranking as the No. 3 scorer in the institution’s history. He held the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joan, for 63 years.
The couple had three children, including Billy, who played a key role in leading Providence to the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and coached Florida to 14 NCAA tournament appearances over 19 years, securing back-to-back championships in 2006-07.
