Florida coach Billy Donovan shouts instructions during a match.
IN PHOTO: Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan coaches his players during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

University of Florida’s Billy Donovan is close to becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder’s next coach, according to multiple reports from Wednesday night. The team has not made any announcement so far, but ESPN claims that an announcement could be made as early as Thursday or Friday.

The Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks last Wednesday after the team missed the playoffs after making the Western Conference Finals in three of the last four seasons. General Manager Sam Presti had denied at the time that Brooks was not fired because the team missed the playoffs, with the decision taken with an eye towards the future instead. Kevin Durant enters free agency in 2016 and Russell Westbrook in 2017, so the championship window for the Thunder is closing soon, which may have influenced the Thunder’s decision to fire Brooks.

Kevin Ollie, a former teammate of Kevin Durant and currently the head coach at the University of Connecticut, was also in the running for the Thunder job before he withdrew from consideration. Thunder General Manager Sam Presti is close with both Ollie and Billy Donovan.

According to ESPN and Yahoo reports, Donovan and the Thunder are locked in talks regarding the details of his contract, with a deal almost certain to be done unless unexpected complications arise during talks. Yahoo claims that Donovan could be paid around $6 million a year for his services, up from $4 million at Florida.

Donovan won back to back titles with Florida in 2005 and 2006, and in 2007 had agreed to coach the Orlando Magic. He then backed out of the five year contract to stay at Florida, with the NBA not allowing him to be considered for any jobs in the league till the completion of the five years mentioned in the original contract with the Magic in 2012. He was also considered for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach positions last offseason but rejected the offers.

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