Providence College Athletics
Britt King and Billy Donovan on stage at the Friar Legends Jersey Retirement Ceremony on February 14, 2025
Providence College Kicks Off Friar Legends Jersey Retirement Weekend
2/14/2025 9:27:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
The Friars honored Billy Donovan ’87, Britt King ’86 and former women’s basketball Head Coach, Bob Foley at a dinner on Feb. 14 at the Omni Hotel.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Providence College kicked off its Friar Legends Forever Jersey Retirement Weekend with a dinner reception on Feb. 14 at the Omni Hotel in Providence, R.I. It marked the first of a series of events to be held throughout the weekend honoring former 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.
The evening included a VIP cocktail hour, a three-course dinner and an engaging speaking series. Additional events will continue throughout the weekend surrounding the men's basketball game against Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Amica Mutual Pavilion and the women's basketball game vs. Seton Hall on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Alumni Hall. At the men's game, Donovan will have his banner unveiled in the rafters at halftime, while King and Foley will be honored at several media timeouts in the first half. On Sunday at the women's game, King and Foley will have their banners unveiled in rafters of Alumni Hall. The game will be preceded by a reception.
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.
Gallery: (2-14-2025) 2025 Friar Legends Jersey Retirement
- GO FRIARS! -
The evening included a VIP cocktail hour, a three-course dinner and an engaging speaking series. Additional events will continue throughout the weekend surrounding the men's basketball game against Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Amica Mutual Pavilion and the women's basketball game vs. Seton Hall on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Alumni Hall. At the men's game, Donovan will have his banner unveiled in the rafters at halftime, while King and Foley will be honored at several media timeouts in the first half. On Sunday at the women's game, King and Foley will have their banners unveiled in rafters of Alumni Hall. The game will be preceded by a reception.
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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