League: NBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Coaching

San Antonio Spurs hire Billy Donovan as lead assistant coach

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 2, 2026, 11:48 PM

Last updated Jul 2, 2026

San Antonio Spurs hire Billy Donovan as lead assistant coach

Summary

The San Antonio Spurs have hired Billy Donovan as an assistant coach for the upcoming season. Donovan, who recently stepped down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, will work under Mitch Johnson, who led the Spurs to the NBA Finals last season. After spending the last five seasons with the Bulls, where he had limited postseason success, Donovan will take on an assistant role for the first time since the early 1990s. He previously interviewed for positions with the Orlando Magic and University of North Carolina but opted to join the Spurs. Donovan fills the position left by Sean Sweeney, who served as Johnson's lead assistant last season.

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Key Details

•Billy Donovan joins Spurs coaching staff as lead assistant to Mitch Johnson.
•Donovan was head coach for the Bulls for five seasons, finishing with a 469-413 record.
•The Spurs reached the NBA Finals last season but lost to the New York Knicks.
•Donovan's assistant coaching role is his first in over 30 years.
•He had previously considered coaching roles with other teams before joining San Antonio.

Latest Updates

5:10 AMYahoo Sports — ’Mitch Johnson Better Not Get Too Comfortable’ — NBA World Reacts to Spurs Hiring Billy Donovan As Lead Assistant
11:48 PMCBS NBA — Billy Donovan hired by Spurs: Ex-Bulls coach to become Mitch Johnson's lead assistant, per report

What they're saying

"
Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan has agreed to become Mitch Johnson’s lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, adding decades of coaching experience to the reigning Western Conference champions’ bench. The surprising move led many around the NBA to question what it means for Johnson’s long-term future.
— Yahoo Sports