The University of Florida (UF) acknowledged Thursday Billy Donovan, their head men's basketball coach, left the team to take a job in the NBA.

The school's athletic department announced Donovan's departure in a news release, thanking him for his 19-year tenure, which included four Final Four appearances and two National Championships in back-to-back seasons.

According to ESPN, the Oklahoma City Thunder will introduce Donovan as their new head coach at a press conference Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Donovan's hiring was likely quickened by his close friendship with Thunder general manager Sam Presti.

"I am honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. I knew that it would take a unique opportunity to leave the University of Florida and that is clearly how I look at this situation," Donovan said in a statement. "The Thunder represents so many of the values that I embrace as a head coach; the commitment to the team above oneself, the dedicated pursuit of excellence, the commitment to organizational culture, the identity they have established and the fact that the Thunder and the community are so intricately woven into the fabric of one another."

Citing unnamed sources, Yahoo Sports learned Donovan's contract lasts five years - with a team-controlled option on the final year - worth $30 million. Yahoo Sports also learned the Thunder's coaching search was entirely zeroed in on Donovan.

Now UF athletic director Jeremy Foley must replace the winningest men's basketball coach in school history. The Orlando Sentinel listed a couple UF assistant coaches as internal candidates, as well as Minnesota's Richard Pitino and Villanova's Jay Wright as possible targets for Foley.