Media Buzz: Reaction to Gators' hiring of Michael White to replace Billy D
Friday, May 8, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It didn't take the Gators long to find Billy Donovan's replacement.
They found him in Ruston, La., where for the past four seasons Michael White has won 101 games as head coach of Louisiana Tech University.
Some highlights of White's introductory press conference at Louisiana Tech four years ago if interested: https://t.co/KGsAvvTc7S #Gators
— Scott Carter (@GatorZoneScott) May 8, 2015
White's hiring Thursday night created a stir in the college basketball world and in Gator Nation.
While a relative unknown to many Florida fans accustomed to unprecedented success the past 19 seasons under Billy D, White is no secret in gyms around the country.
Here is what Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had to say about White late in the 2012-13 season when Louisiana Tech was rolling. (White's father is Kevin White, the current athletic director at Duke and former AD at Notre Dame).
"I better watch out. This kid's good. He's my AD's son."
Krzyzewski was joking of course, but he made his point: White was viewed as an up-and-comer early on during his tenure at Louisiana Tech.
Florida will officially introduce the 38-year-old White as its head coach on Monday during a press conference on campus.
For now, here are some fresh links from around the Internet to catch you up on White:
--Florida passed on big names, bet on Michael White to keep Gators great writes Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com.
--Florida completed a swift and stealthy search to replace Billy Donovan writes Pat Forde of Yahoo.com.
--Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that Florida AD Jeremy Foley is pumped to hire the coach to replace the irreplaceable.
--Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi writes that “much like a young Donovan, White is a disciple of a pressing, pushing pyrotechnic style of basketball.”
--Andy Hutchins of AlligatorArmy.com offers his take on Florida's hiring of White to replace Donovan.
Meanwhile, you can watch ESPN.com college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman discuss Florida's hiring of White in the video below:
