Recruiting McDonald’s All-Americans brought Donovan plenty of attention and envy, but decidedly mixed results. With only so much continuity, Florida got bounced out of the NCAAs in the first or second round each of the past five years.

In the midst of all those tough tournament losses, “Billy The Kid” made some very grownup decisions. He quit recruiting the talented short-timers and found kids who were going to be around long enough to mold. He quit playing only one style — the up-tempo, helter-skelter system he played under Pitino — and began adapting game plans to what his players did best, or what his opponents couldn’t do at all. In short, as his 40th birthday approached, he became a coach in the best sense of the word.

It was no coincidence that Florida started four sophomores and only one junior, or that they sneaked up on just about everyone. Most experts rated the Gators outside the top 50, and as low as fifth in their own league. After all, a senior and two juniors from last year’s team left to chase their NBA dreams and took 60 percent of the scoring with them.

Donovan responded with his best coaching job, really saving the best for last.

For years, he had been saying that tournament success would come if he gave himself enough chances, and for all the early-round disappointments, on his 10th consecutive appearance he was right. Only six men have played and coached in a Final Four, and like two of them, Bobby Knight and Dean Smith, Donovan figures to get back there a few more times.

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Pitino wouldn’t say he saw this win coming — “I was hopeful,” he said Monday night — but last May, at a 40th birthday party for his prized pupil, he pulled Donovan over. He told him how much he admired the way Donovan had built a program for the long haul.

“He always calls me up and says, it’s ‘Billy The Kid,”’ Pitino said. “He’s going to have to say it’s ‘Billy The Coach’ now.”