Billy Donovan had several Oklahoma allies already at his side when he officially took over the job as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s head coach.
OU head basketball coach Lon Kruger and OSU head hoops coach Travis Ford both were at the May 1 press conference when Donovan was formally introduced.
Kruger was the head basketball coach at the University of Florida before Donovan, so the two already knew one another.
Ford was a player at the University of Kentucky while Donovan was an assistant for the Wildcats.
Donovan said he and Ford used to play pick up games together while at Kentucky.
The new Thunder head coach also is friends with OU head football coach Bob Stoops.
The duo became friends while Stoops was an assistant with the Gator football team in the late 90’s.
For more on Donovan’s Oklahoma connections watch the video above.
