Bill Donovan, father of Bulls coach and a star for Boston College, dies at 85

By Canadian Press on February 16, 2026.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Bill Donovan, the father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan whose own basketball exploits propelled him to the Boston College Hall of Fame, has died. He was 85.

Bill Donovan died Saturday, according to the obituary posted by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville, Florida.

A native of Queens, New York, Donovan captained the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962 as the No. 3 scorer in school history. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was married to his high school sweetheart, Joan, for 63 years.

They had three kids, including Billy, who helped Providence reach the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and coached Florida to 14 NCAA tournament appearances in 19 years and back-to-back championships in 2006-07.

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The Associated Press