Providence College Athletics
Providence College To Honor Billy Donovan ‘87, Britt King ‘86 And Former Head Coach Bob Foley As They Join The Friar Legends Forever Tradition
11/13/2024 2:50:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Three Friar Legends will have their uniform jerseys hung from the rafters during a host of events on Feb. 14-16.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It was announced today (Nov. 13) that during the weekend of Feb. 14-16 Providence College will honor two of its all-time great basketball players and one of its legendary coaches. Former Friar men's basketball player Billy Donovan '87, former women's basketball player Britt King '86 and former women's basketball head coach, the late Bob Foley, all will be recognized as they join the Friar Legends Forever Tradition. Two receptions are planned for the weekend to honor the trio and revolve around the men's basketball game scheduled against Villanova on Feb. 15 and the women's basketball game vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 16. During the ceremony, banners will be unveiled and presented to each individual with their name and uniform number (Donovan #34 and King #24).
Billy Donovan Friar Legends Reception: Join us for a special evening on Friday, February 14 from 6-9 p.m. at the Omni Hotel at 1 West Exchange Street as we honor Billy Donovan '87 in recognition of his storied career at Providence College. The event will feature a seated dinner and an engaging speaking series featuring other members of the Friar Legends tradition, including Britt King '86, who is also being honored Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the event on Friday night are $85 or $850 for a table of 10 and can be purchased by clicking the link below:
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/3iofXW6/g/BzkeJBjC3d/2025-mens-basketball-jersey-retirement-4a6XUT5AWb/overview?elq_cid=73087&aid=16059&pid=providence_email_eloqua&rid=2473
Britt King '86 & Coach Bob Foley Friar Legends Reception: Join us for an exciting afternoon on Sunday, February 16 from 12-2 p.m. at Providence College as we honor Britt King '86 and the late Bob Foley, former head coach, for their lasting legacy on Friar basketball. Following the reception all guests will be invited to attend the game as women's basketball takes on Seton Hall. Tickets for the event on Sunday afternoon are $40 (This event is free for all Women's Basketball Season Ticket Holders) and can be purchased by clicking the link below:
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/3iofXW6/g/BzkeJBjC3d/2025-womens-basketball-jersey-retirement-4a6XUT5Aht/overview
The Friar Legends Forever Tradition began in 1996. To earn the honor, the player or coach must have made a significant impact on Friar basketball and he/she must have received national recognition during his/her career at Providence. Donovan will become the 16th member of the Friar men's basketball family to be honored as part of the Friar Legends Forever Tradition. Lenny Wilkens `60 was the first PC player to have his number enshrined in 1996. In 2007, the College honored former coaches Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt. In 2008, Jimmy Walker `67, Marvin Barnes `74 and Ernie DiGregorio `73 had their numbers honored. In 2009, the College honored John Egan '61. In 2011, Ray Flynn `63 and Vinnie Ernst `63 were honored. In 2014, Kevin Stacom `74 and Joe Hassett `77 were added. In 2015, John Thompson '64 and Jim Hadnot '62 were recognized. The most recent Friars to earn the honor were Bruce "Soup" Campbell '78 and Otis Thorpe '84 in 2017.
King and Foley become the sixth and seventh members of the women's basketball family to be honored as part of the Friar Legends Forever Tradition. In 2010, former administrator Helen Bert and 1984 BIG EAST Player of the Year Kathy Finn Hill '84 were the first to be honored. Tracy Lis '92 had her jersey retired in 2014, followed by Andrea Mangum '90 in 2015. Doris Burke '87 was the most recent honoree in 2017.
Donovan is one of the most recognizable figures in the history of Friar basketball. He played for the Friars from 1983-87. In those four seasons he played for head coaches Joe Mullaney and Rick Pitino. He scored 1,328 points in 122 games. He was 327-402 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line for his career. Donovan came into prominence during his senior season when the three-point line was added to college basketball. In 1986-87, he led the Friars to a fourth-place finish in league play. The team then went on a run which resulted in a trip to the NCAA Final Four. He was named MVP of the Southeast Regional. As a senior, he averaged 20.6 points, 7.1 assists, 2.4 steals and shot 84.3 percent from the free-throw line. He also shot 40.9 percent (97-237) from three-point territory. His 97 threes in 1987 ranks second all-time at PC in a single season. In addition to being named NCAA Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player in 1987, he also was named All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, New England Player of the Year, All-New England, All-East, and UPI Honorable Mention All-America. Following graduation, he played one season in the NBA. He became the head coach of the University Florida for 19 seasons (1996-2015) and led the team to two NCAA titles (2006 and 2007). Donovan is one of three Friar alums to lead a team to a NCAA title. He coached the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons (2015-20) before moving on to his current job as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls (2020-present).
King, who played for the Friars from 1982-86, remains the Friars' all-time career rebounding leader (1,205) and ranks eighth all-time in career scoring (1,531 points). As the program's most prolific rebounder, she also holds the single-season record (398), single-game mark (22) and record for the highest rebounding average in a single-season (14.2 rpg). She is one of only three players in program history to record more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career. She helped the Friars claim two BIG EAST regular-season titles (1983, 1986) and also helped the team secure its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986. King earned KODAK District I All-America accolades in 1985 and was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection. She garnered All-BIG EAST First-Team honors in 1986 and also was honored on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team that same season. King was a member of the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 1985. King is the only Friar in program history to average a double-double during their career, with 13.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. She was honored as Providence College Female Athlete of the Year in 1986 and was inducted into the Providence College Athletics Hall of Fame on Feb. 16, 2008.
Foley, who will be honored posthumously, following his passing in April of 2024, coached the women's basketball program from 1985 to 1996. He guided Providence to six post-season appearances, including five trips to the NCAA Tournament. During his 11-year tenure on the sidelines, six of his teams finished with 20-plus victories and four of his teams, at one time, were ranked among the top 25 in the nation. Foley brought Providence College to national prominence when his 1989-90 squad became the first BIG EAST school to reach the NCAA Sweet 16. That team also claimed the program's first BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship, defeating Connecticut, 86-61, in Storrs, Conn. Foley developed and mentored eight players, who earned All-America honors. Foley was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1986 and is the program's all-time wins leader, with 206. Foley was inducted into the Providence College Athletics Hall of Fame on Feb. 15, 2013.
- GO FRIARS! -
Billy Donovan Friar Legends Reception: Join us for a special evening on Friday, February 14 from 6-9 p.m. at the Omni Hotel at 1 West Exchange Street as we honor Billy Donovan '87 in recognition of his storied career at Providence College. The event will feature a seated dinner and an engaging speaking series featuring other members of the Friar Legends tradition, including Britt King '86, who is also being honored Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the event on Friday night are $85 or $850 for a table of 10 and can be purchased by clicking the link below:
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/3iofXW6/g/BzkeJBjC3d/2025-mens-basketball-jersey-retirement-4a6XUT5AWb/overview?elq_cid=73087&aid=16059&pid=providence_email_eloqua&rid=2473
Britt King '86 & Coach Bob Foley Friar Legends Reception: Join us for an exciting afternoon on Sunday, February 16 from 12-2 p.m. at Providence College as we honor Britt King '86 and the late Bob Foley, former head coach, for their lasting legacy on Friar basketball. Following the reception all guests will be invited to attend the game as women's basketball takes on Seton Hall. Tickets for the event on Sunday afternoon are $40 (This event is free for all Women's Basketball Season Ticket Holders) and can be purchased by clicking the link below:
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/3iofXW6/g/BzkeJBjC3d/2025-womens-basketball-jersey-retirement-4a6XUT5Aht/overview
The Friar Legends Forever Tradition began in 1996. To earn the honor, the player or coach must have made a significant impact on Friar basketball and he/she must have received national recognition during his/her career at Providence. Donovan will become the 16th member of the Friar men's basketball family to be honored as part of the Friar Legends Forever Tradition. Lenny Wilkens `60 was the first PC player to have his number enshrined in 1996. In 2007, the College honored former coaches Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt. In 2008, Jimmy Walker `67, Marvin Barnes `74 and Ernie DiGregorio `73 had their numbers honored. In 2009, the College honored John Egan '61. In 2011, Ray Flynn `63 and Vinnie Ernst `63 were honored. In 2014, Kevin Stacom `74 and Joe Hassett `77 were added. In 2015, John Thompson '64 and Jim Hadnot '62 were recognized. The most recent Friars to earn the honor were Bruce "Soup" Campbell '78 and Otis Thorpe '84 in 2017.
King and Foley become the sixth and seventh members of the women's basketball family to be honored as part of the Friar Legends Forever Tradition. In 2010, former administrator Helen Bert and 1984 BIG EAST Player of the Year Kathy Finn Hill '84 were the first to be honored. Tracy Lis '92 had her jersey retired in 2014, followed by Andrea Mangum '90 in 2015. Doris Burke '87 was the most recent honoree in 2017.
Donovan is one of the most recognizable figures in the history of Friar basketball. He played for the Friars from 1983-87. In those four seasons he played for head coaches Joe Mullaney and Rick Pitino. He scored 1,328 points in 122 games. He was 327-402 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line for his career. Donovan came into prominence during his senior season when the three-point line was added to college basketball. In 1986-87, he led the Friars to a fourth-place finish in league play. The team then went on a run which resulted in a trip to the NCAA Final Four. He was named MVP of the Southeast Regional. As a senior, he averaged 20.6 points, 7.1 assists, 2.4 steals and shot 84.3 percent from the free-throw line. He also shot 40.9 percent (97-237) from three-point territory. His 97 threes in 1987 ranks second all-time at PC in a single season. In addition to being named NCAA Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player in 1987, he also was named All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, New England Player of the Year, All-New England, All-East, and UPI Honorable Mention All-America. Following graduation, he played one season in the NBA. He became the head coach of the University Florida for 19 seasons (1996-2015) and led the team to two NCAA titles (2006 and 2007). Donovan is one of three Friar alums to lead a team to a NCAA title. He coached the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons (2015-20) before moving on to his current job as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls (2020-present).
King, who played for the Friars from 1982-86, remains the Friars' all-time career rebounding leader (1,205) and ranks eighth all-time in career scoring (1,531 points). As the program's most prolific rebounder, she also holds the single-season record (398), single-game mark (22) and record for the highest rebounding average in a single-season (14.2 rpg). She is one of only three players in program history to record more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career. She helped the Friars claim two BIG EAST regular-season titles (1983, 1986) and also helped the team secure its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986. King earned KODAK District I All-America accolades in 1985 and was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection. She garnered All-BIG EAST First-Team honors in 1986 and also was honored on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team that same season. King was a member of the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 1985. King is the only Friar in program history to average a double-double during their career, with 13.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. She was honored as Providence College Female Athlete of the Year in 1986 and was inducted into the Providence College Athletics Hall of Fame on Feb. 16, 2008.
Foley, who will be honored posthumously, following his passing in April of 2024, coached the women's basketball program from 1985 to 1996. He guided Providence to six post-season appearances, including five trips to the NCAA Tournament. During his 11-year tenure on the sidelines, six of his teams finished with 20-plus victories and four of his teams, at one time, were ranked among the top 25 in the nation. Foley brought Providence College to national prominence when his 1989-90 squad became the first BIG EAST school to reach the NCAA Sweet 16. That team also claimed the program's first BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship, defeating Connecticut, 86-61, in Storrs, Conn. Foley developed and mentored eight players, who earned All-America honors. Foley was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1986 and is the program's all-time wins leader, with 206. Foley was inducted into the Providence College Athletics Hall of Fame on Feb. 15, 2013.
- GO FRIARS! -
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