By R.L. Bynum
Billy Donovan has been one of the prominent coaches mentioned in North Carolina’s coaching search, and the Chicago Bulls coach gets high marks from one of the Tar Heels’ most popular former stars.
In an interview conducted last month when Coby White returned to Chicago with the Charlotte Hornets, the guard, who was second-team All-ACC in 2019, said that Donovan isn’t easy on young players but makes them better.
White explained that Donovan played a crucial role in his development during his time with the Bulls.
“He was a huge part,” White said. “He always tries to say I worked and I worked, but I always give him a lot of credit for how far I came.”
He acknowledged that Donovan can be demanding, particularly with inexperienced players, adding, “He is hard. When you’re a young player, he is very hard on you. It’s a lot of tough love. He sees something in you.”
That toughness, White noted, comes from Donovan’s own background and competitive edge.
“He’s from New York; he’s battle-tested,” White said. “That’s his way of kind of seeing how tough you are. Can you respond?”
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White pointed out that he was far from the only young Bull to experience that approach, citing Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams.
“He was like that with Ayo as well. He was like that with Pat. He was like that with a lot of young guys that came in here,” White said.
Even with the challenging environment Donovan creates for his developing players, White emphasized that the benefits are lasting when a player embraces it.
“If you respond the right way, it’s gonna do nothing but make you better,” he said. The relationship between the two eventually grew beyond the court. As White described it, “We built a great relationship as player/coach. He’s been a guy who supported me off the court as well, and we built a great relationship off the court. So that’s a relationship that will last forever.”
For UNC fans evaluating Donovan as a possible successor in Chapel Hill, White’s perspective offers a glimpse into how the coach might connect with players, challenge them and ultimately helps shape their careers.
Photo via @Hornets
