Donlon says he has nothing but love for Wright State

Michigan assistant coach Billy Donlon watches the team practice on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. David Jablonski/Staff

Michigan assistant coach Billy Donlon watches the team practice on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. David Jablonski/Staff

On the one-year anniversary of the news breaking that he had been fired, former Wright State basketball coach Billy Donlon said the university still holds a special place in his heart.

“I spent 10 years there, and I love that place,” Donlon said from a cramped coaches office at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, where he and the rest of the Michigan staff are preparing the Wolverines for Friday’s first-round NCAA tournament game against Oklahoma State.

“I think Wright State is one of the best places in the world,” Donlon added. “I love the fans. I love the people. I appreciated my 10 years there. I will always cheer for them, and certainly will cheer a little harder with the guys our staff left for the current staff.”

Donlon said he kept up with the Raiders all season, checking their scores and reading articles when he wasn’t helping build Michigan into a Big 10 champion. And while he admitted he was disappointed he got fired, he’s excited about landing at UM and making his second trip to the NCAA tournament.

“I’m really proud of what I did as a coach,” Donlon said. “I went to three conference finals in four years. In life you always have to remember, there are the controllables, and there are the uncontrollables. When other people get to make decisions with your life that you can’t control, you just have to move on from them.”

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