Former Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan and his wife Christine took out a full-page ad in Sunday's edition of the Gainesville Sun, thanking the community and the fans for all their love and support during Donovan's 19-year tenure as head coach of the Gators.

In typical Donovan fashion, the legendary coach took the chance to joke about getting cold feet the last time he left for the NBA, when he turned heel on the Orlando Magic after a few days and returned to Gainesville.

The heartfelt full-page ad can be read in its entirety below. Donovan departs for Oklahoma City with nothing but well wishes from the fans and the community, and his players want nothing more than to see him succeed at the NBA level.

Thank you ad from Billy & Christine Donovan "Goodbye" is so difficult, especially after having spent two decades in this community. (And as you've seen before, leaving you all has never been easy for us!) The University of Florida and Gainesville embraced us from the day we arrived so long ago, and we have grown to love not only this local community that has loved us, but all of Gator Nation - from Crescent Beach to Cedar Key, from Miami to New York, from Jacksonville to San Francisco, to all over the nation and globe. We are so grateful to Jeremy Foley, staff and leaders at the University of Florida, along with scores of players and coaches who have become part of our family. And, of course, the Rowdy Reptiles. We leave with hearts full of love and cherished memories of euphoria and heartbreak - on and off the court - shared at every step with our Gator family. We are excited for all that Mike White brings as he puts his own unique mark on Florida basketball...Fannnntastic! And so, rather than "goodbye," ...until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand. -- Billy and Christine Donovan

BillyD & wife Christine say goodbye to #Gators via full-page ad in Gainesville Sun. Class act. Hardly a surprise. pic.twitter.com/mx1O80gwZD — Chris Harry (@GatorZoneChris) May 24, 2015



