Billy gillispie biography

American college basketball coach

For depiction Irish footballer, see Billy Gillespie.

Billy Clyde Gillispie (ghih-LIS-pee; born Nov 7, 1959), also known unresponsive to his initials BCG and Billy Clyde, is an American faculty basketball and current men's hoops coach at Tarleton State.^[1] Gillispie had previously been head trainer at UTEP, Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Texas Tech.

After respected both UTEP and Texas A&M to postseason appearances one period after poor seasons, Gillispie became the only college basketball carriage to be in charge additional the National Collegiate Athletic Society (NCAA) program with the predominant turnaround in two consecutive seasons. Gillispie was known as harangue excellent recruiter who managed restrict put together four straight top-25 recruiting classes.

In his match up seasons at Texas A&M, illustriousness Aggies achieved three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first at this point in the program's history.^[2]

Early years

Gillispie was born November 7, 1959, in Abilene, Texas,^[3] the interior child and only boy in the middle of five children of Clyde, straight cattle truck driver, and Winifred Gillispie.

He grew up mull it over Graford, Texas, a town go along with 494 people located about 65 miles west of Fort Benefit. As a child, Gillispie pretended as a paperboy, delivering copies of The Fort Worth Press. At Graford High School, Gillispie played point guard for representation basketball team and was organized standout athlete in his graduating class of 20 students.

Recognized attended Ranger College, playing hoops and baseball for them be different 1978 to 1980, before dissemination to Sam Houston State Founding to work as a scholar assistant for their basketball unit under coach Bob Derryberry, spiffy tidy up former classmate of Gillispie's divine. Derryberry moved to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas On the trot University–San Marcos) the following generation, and Gillispie accompanied him, expenses three years as a mark off assistant.

Gillispie received his importance in education from Southwest Texas State in 1983.^[3]

Coaching career

Early positions

Gillispie spent the next few building a coaching resume, disbursement two years as an bid high school basketball coach in advance becoming a head coach be persistent Copperas Cove High School squash up 1987.

From 1987 to 1993, Gillispie held three high grammar head coaching positions. He was nominated for Texas Association type Basketball Coaches (TABC) high educational institution coach of the year recognize the value of his 1992–1993 season with Author High School in Killeen, Texas, which set school records funds winning percentage and points scored and ended the season ranged 4th in the state.^[4]

After a-one year as an assistant master at South Plains College, straighten out 1994, Gillispie moved to Breaking up I college basketball as erior assistant coach and recruiting chairperson at Baylor University under imagination coach Harry Miller.

Miller person in charge Gillispie had coached against compete other in the same feeling of excitement school district as late translation two years earlier, with Writer at Temple High School. Decency Baylor Bears' 1996 recruiting bring up was ranked as high monkey number six in the round. After three years at Baylor, Gillispie moved to the Doctrine of Tulsa to be young adult assistant coach under Bill Innermost self.

Tulsa reached the elite 8 in the 2000 season. During the time that Self moved to the College of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Gillispie followed, working as an proffer there for the next deuce years. During those two seasons, Fighting Illini won back-to-back Sketchy Ten Conference titles for glory first time in 50 existence, advancing to the Elite Pile in the 2001 NCAA Trial affray and to the Sweet 16 in the 2002 NCAA Tourney.

With Gillispie's assistance, Illinois numberless a top 10 recruiting out of this world in 2002.^[4]

Through Gillispie's eight stage as an assistant, he was a member of coaching staffs that won five conference championships in six years. As tribe of Bill Self's staff, subside was a member of high-mindedness only coaching staff in NCAA history to lead two distinctive schools to the Elite Plane in successive seasons.^[4]

UTEP

Gillispie was leased as the head coach fall foul of the men's basketball team equal finish the University of Texas even El Paso (UTEP) in 2002.

2002–2003

In his first season renovation a head coach, the UTEP Miners finished a dismal 6–24. Despite the poor showing, Gillispie put his recruiting expertise imagine work so that his head recruiting class ranked in honourableness top 25 in the realm and included Filiberto Rivera, glory 2003 National Junior College Competitor of the Year, and Omar Thomas, the all-time leading chronicler in junior college basketball.^[4]

2003–2004

In integrity exhibition games preceding the 2003–04 season, Gillispie's UTEP Miners cringing the Harlem Globetrotters 89–88, pinpoint the Globetrotters had already disappointed many college teams including interpretation then-defending national champion, Syracuse Carroty.

It was the first submit the Harlem Globetrotters had allowed in 289 games.^[5]

Although the Miners were predicted to finish 9th in the Western Athletic Advice (WAC) for the 2003–04 interval, UTEP instead captured their important conference title in 12 life. The team finished 24–8 courier received a bid to integrity 2004 NCAA tournament.

The 18-win improvement was the best reclaim Division I basketball that edible, and one of the appropriately in Division I history. Chimp a result of their participate, the Miners built a immense home following, ranking first double up the NCAA in increased habitation. After his second season be infatuated with the Miners, Gillispie was styled Texas coach of the Class by the TABC and was a finalist for National Tutor of the Year honors.^[4]

Texas A&M

After two years at UTEP, Gillispie was approached to interview supportive of the head coach position think Texas A&M University, vacant astern the forced resignation of Melvin Watkins, whose team had touch 7–21 and failed to catch a Big 12 Conference sport in the 2003–04 season.^[2] Sturdy Director Bill Byrne needed persist at revitalize the program, which confidential only one winning season draw out the previous eleven years,^[6] courier desired a new head tutor with the ability to "recruit the heck out of Texas".^[2] Gillispie agreed to take prestige job only after he was sure that the predominantly football-focused school was actually committed watch over winning,^[2] becoming the first savage Texan to be the purpose basketball coach at Texas A&M since J.

B. Reid was hired in 1930.^[3]

2004–2005

Gillispie asked lead to a budget large enough make sure of allow them to play confidence-building non-conference schedules, rarely venturing bleed of Reed Arena in class first two seasons. Using ethics padded non-conference schedule to their advantage, the Aggies won prestige first eleven games of Gillispie's debut season before finishing rank season 21–10, a fourteen-game border over the previous season.

Though the Aggies were picked foster finish last in the Ample 12 Conference, they finished 8–8 in conference play, winning desirouss against the number 9 Texas Longhorns and number 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders on their way to becoming only picture third college team to at any point finish .500 in league overlook after being winless the foregoing season.

For the first at a rate of knots in eleven years, the group received a postseason bid. Distinction Aggies' two wins in loftiness National Invitation Tournament (NIT) were their first postseason wins ton 23 seasons.^[4] With the leading first-season record of any purpose basketball coach in Texas A&M history, the Aggies had probity most season wins since magnanimity 1979–80 team had won 26 games.^[6] The Aggies were called the country's most improved gang, making Gillispie the only educator in history to lead loftiness most improved team in successive seasons.

As a result objection his success, he was class consensus selection for Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year.^[4] and was selected to safeguard as a court coach go bad the 2005 USA Men's Globe University Games Team Trials.^[6]

2005–2006

Although ethics Aggies lost Antoine Wright familiar with the NBA draft following honesty 2004–05 season, the team blunt not suffer the predicted drop-off,^[4] and actually broke a line of twenty-five years without generate ranked in the poll.^[7] Character Aggies finished the regular patch with a 21–8 record, inclusive of a 10–6 conference record standing a fourth-place finish in glory Big 12, the best cease and most wins for Texas A&M since the formation flaxen the conference in 1996.

Keep watch on the first time since 1987, Texas A&M received a invite to the NCAA tournament.^[8] Owing to a twelfth-seeded team, the Aggies upset the Big East Talk champion Syracuse Orange in distinction first round of the tournament^[9] but then lost in authority second round to eventual Farewell Four participant, the LSU Tigers, by the score of 58–57 on a three-pointer that LSU made in the final minutes of the game.^[10] Following probity season, Gillispie was named justness Big 12 Conference Coach think likely the Year by several elder newspapers and was named birth Texas College Coach of picture Year by the TABC.^[4]

2006–2007

The Aggies began the 2006–07 season held capable of contending with rank Kansas Jayhawks for the Open 12 Conference regular-season crown move were picked to finish in a short time in the Big 12 routes and coaches' polls.

In their twelfth attempt, on February 3, 2007, Texas A&M became position first Big 12 Conference side in the South Division call by beat the Jayhawks at Comedienne Fieldhouse, moving them into singular possession of first place razor-sharp the conference standing. Less surpass forty-eight hours later the Aggies defeated their archrivals, the #25 ranked Texas Longhorns, marking their 21st straight win at domicile.

The 2006–07 Aggies ended grandeur regular season ranked #7 provoke the Associated Press and #6 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll. The Aggies set top-hole school record for most traditional weeks in the top 25, reaching a school high broadcast 6 ranking.^[7] On March 4, 2007, Gillispie was awarded authority second Big 12 Conference Carriage of the Year award to about leading the Aggies to first-class 13–3 conference record and cool second-place finish behind the River Jayhawks.^[11] The 2006–07 post-season, nobleness Aggies advanced to the Honeylike Sixteen in the NCAA game.

Their post-season hopes ended extra a one-point loss (65–64) pact the Memphis Tigers at birth Alamodome in San Antonio disagreement March 22, 2007.^[12]

Kentucky

Hiring

On April 5, 2007, University of Kentucky ablebodied director Mitch Barnhart was confirmed permission by Texas A&M give speak with Gillispie about rectitude program's basketball coach opening, rejected by Tubby Smith.

On Apr 6, 2007, the announcement was made that Gillispie had push the position.^[13] He drew deprecation for the way he keep steady Texas A&M by having alerted the Aggie players of fulfil decision to take the Kentucky job via text message, long forgotten en route to the initial press conference in Lexington.^[14]

On Apr 6, 2007, Gillispie was officially announced as the new attitude coach of the University reminiscent of Kentucky by UK athletic leader Mitch Barnhart.

He fielded questions from the media during uncut press conference held at UK's new practice facility, the Joe Craft Center. He expressed diadem excitement and joy to own been given the honor folk tale the opportunity to coach what former Kentucky Wildcats head master Rick Pitino referred to by reason of the "Roman Empire" of faculty basketball.

"I'm very, very appreciative and honored to be on touching, but we have a opt for of work to do."^[15] Gillispie became only the sixth mind coach in the last 76 years at the school.^[16]

Gillispie mark a Memorandum of Understanding lay into Kentucky on April 6, 2007^[17] which outlined his salary come to rest benefits.

The memo also acknowledged that contract negotiations would amend concluded with "every reasonable effort" within 60 days. Gillispie delighted the university never signed simple formal contract.^[18]

Recruiting

Between April 29 playing field May 7, 2008, Billy Gillispie made recruiting waves by snagging commitments from five players latitude over five different classes, get bigger notably the commitment on Hawthorn 1 of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

8th-grader Michael Avery. Avery, simple member of the class good buy 2012, gave the University take off Kentucky its earliest basketball loyalty in the history of interpretation program. The commitment also attained national scrutiny for Coach Gillispie and the university, but forth were no violations of honourableness NCAA recruiting rules.^[19] During coronate tenure at Kentucky, Gillispie snagged numerous high-profile recruits.

These contained three 5-star recruits according thither Scout.com (Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton & Dominique Ferguson) and cinque 4-star recruits (Alex Legion, DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, Kevin Dominion and Jon Hood).^[20] Legion subsequent transferred to Illinois early end in the 2007–08 season.

2007–2008

Wildcat fans packed Rupp Arena for Open Blue Madness (the first rehearsal of the season and grandeur program's major publicity event) cause problems catch a glimpse of their new coach in action. Mark out his first few months oversight signed two high-profile recruits, Apostle Patterson and Alex Legion.

Patterson had previously been recruited from one side to the ot the Duke Blue Devils, Florida Gators, and Kentucky Wildcats (by former coach Tubby Smith) a while ago signing with Gillispie. Alex Army would transfer 6 games curious his first season at Kentucky. Gillispie's first season got divide up to a rocky start, grow routed 84–68 by unranked Author Webb in Rupp Arena encompass the second game of dignity season.

This loss dropped nobleness Wildcats from the AP Temporary halt 25 poll, where they exact not return for the overage of the season. The Wildcats improved their record during convention play, achieving a 12–4 snap and on March 11, Gillispie was named Co-Southeastern Conference lecturer of the year along interchange Bruce Pearl of the River Volunteers.^[21]

2008–2009

On November 14, 2008, Gillispie's Kentucky team opened the 2008–09 season with another loss balanced home, this time to rectitude Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets, by a score of 111–103.

However, on November 30, 2008, Gillispie led Kentucky to splendid 54–43 come from behind feat over the West Virginia Mountaineers to win the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational championship. Granted his Wildcats had trailed accompaniment the entire game, Billy energetic halftime adjustments that stymied tutor Bobby Huggins' Mountaineers, eventually notwithstanding Kentucky to overcome a 14-point deficit well into the alternate half – holding the Mountaineers to only 17-second-half points.

Even supposing neither team was ranked, position win was considered an knock over victory for Coach Gillispie cranium his Wildcats after the VMI loss and was the prime in-season tournament championship win own the University of Kentucky on account of winning the Great Alaska Gunplay in late 1996.

After wonderful 5–0 start in the Tick conference schedule, however, Gillispie's band dropped three straight games conversation the Ole Miss Rebels, Southeast Carolina Gamecocks and Mississippi Asseverate Bulldogs, with the latter four losses coming at home.

Time-consuming Kentucky fans vociferously booed Gillispie during the Mississippi State distraction. Kentucky rebounded against the Florida Gators with a 68–65 bring down at home. Jodie Meeks cuff a contested fade-away three-pointer extinct less than 5 seconds nautical port to give Kentucky the luminary. Nick Calathes had an gateway to tie the game stern being fouled with 0.6 for a few moments left by Kevin Galloway, however missed all three free throws (the last intentional) to ribbon the Wildcats' win.

Kentucky as well had two lopsided victories essentially SEC East regular season conqueror Tennessee. Although Gillispie continued chance take the blame for honesty Wildcats' woes, he was besides a victim of some cue his youthful and inexperienced recruits' underperformance and the lack show signs consistent play at the converge guard position.

Gillispie continued gain publicly encourage his players fairy story praise their work ethic contempt the team's inconsistent play fabric the 2008–09 season. Such incitement manifested itself in Gillispie's accepted statements about his players associate close losses.^[22][23]

Kentucky missed the NCAA Tournament for the first age since 1991, and received spiffy tidy up 4th seed in the Boofhead, defeating UNLV and Creighton join the opening and second end before losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in distinction quarterfinals.

Kentucky finished the best with an 8–8 record pound conference and 22–14 overall. Distinction record tied for the second-most losses ever in the program's history.^[24]

Firing

Gillispie was fired as dignity Wildcats' head coach on Stride 27, 2009.^[25] Athletic director Mitch Barnhart told Gillispie that rulership firing was not related hinder on-court performance, but was claim to a general feeling cruise Gillispie was "not a fair to middling fit" for UK.

According halt Barnhart, the "incompatibility" between Gillispie and UK specifically manifested upturn in Gillispie's failure to put your signature on a formal contract two age after his hiring. As make heads above, Gillispie had coached edify two years on a "Memorandum of Understanding," not a contract; UK initially considered it honourableness equivalent of a series win one-year contracts.^[26] UK had offered Gillispie a seven-year contract, on the other hand Gillispie had never signed it.^[27]

Lawsuit and settlement

On May 27, 2009, Gillispie filed a lawsuit bite the bullet the University of Kentucky Energetic Association for breach of ordain and fraud stemming from distinction firing.^[28] The suit was filed in Gillispie's home state designate Texas, in the United States District Court for the Polar District of Texas.^[28] Gillispie was seeking $6 million, the amount noteworthy claimed the university owed him on the remaining years rearender the deal, punitive damages, lawyer fees, and a jury trial.^[28] The next day, the habit filed a countersuit against Gillispie in Franklin Circuit Court essential Frankfort, Kentucky's state capital.^[29] Make happen the countersuit, UK sought tidy judge's order that Gillispie's chitty of understanding was not cool formal contract.^[29]

On October 13, 2009, UK and Gillispie agreed take care of settle the dispute.^[30] Under rendering agreement, Gillispie got $2.98 million duration UK paid over $265,000 inconvenience mediation costs.^[30]

Texas Tech

On March 20, 2011, Gillispie was named leadership 14th head coach of nobility Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Gillispie replaced Pat Knight after Chessman failed to make the NCAA tournament and compiled a 16–42 Big 12 Conference record crowd his three and a division seasons as head coach. Gillispie was introduced at a monitor conference on March 23, 2011, at the United Spirit Arena.^[31] On February 11, 2012, Gillispie won his first Big 12 game as the coach nominate the Red Raiders, who with it the Oklahoma Sooners, 65–47.^[32] Significant finished the 2011 season 8–23.

In October 2011, Gillispie exceeded the 20-hour practice limit flat tyre by the NCAA. Both Gillispie and assistant coach Bubba Jennings were reprimanded by Texas Investigator in January 2012. The subsidiary violation was reported to dignity NCAA, and the organization remedy the self-imposed penalty of unembellished 12-hour, 20-minute reduction in use time.^[33] The violation was plead for reported to the public till such time as September 2012, when allegations brake misconduct surfaced in the media.^[34]

Allegations of player mistreatment

Before the come into being of the 2012–13 basketball patch, allegations surfaced from former be proof against current players accusing Gillispie hostilities mistreatment.

Fifteen players departed too early in the year after Gillispie arrived, a very high distribution for a college basketball information in a major conference. Too leaving were two strength coaches and two directors of sport operations; some 30 persons whole. The allegations include forcing hurt players to practice, keeping seek reject Ty Nurse and Dejan Kravic in doubt about their accomplishments status, and reneging on promises to potential new coaching baton hires.^[35] Shortly after the allegations were initially reported and filth was due to meet have a crush on athletic director Kirby Hocutt range the allegations, Gillispie was hospitalized for six days with heart-attack like symptoms and high dynasty pressure after calling EMS.

Noteworthy left the hospital on Sep 6. Another call to EMS was made September 10, nevertheless did not require hospitalization.^[33][36] Boxing match September 11, Gillispie took peter out indefinite medical leave, and checkered himself into the Mayo Nursing home. He was treated there reckon 'kidney problems' and 'abnormal headaches', and told to live integrate a stress-free environment for 30 days.^[37] Assistant head coach Chris Walker took over the day-after-day operations of the basketball team.^[38]

Departure

On September 20, 2012, Gillispie unhopeful as head coach at Texas Tech, citing health concerns.^[37] Rulership contract was honored through justness end of the 2012 slate year.^[37] Walker was named intervening coach for the 2012–13 stretch.

Ranger College

In April 2015, demonstrate was announced that Gillispie would become the new basketball bus and athletic director at Warden College, a junior college arena his alma mater.

After buffer ineligible players and other violations, his 2015–16 Ranger College manpower basketball team forfeited all jollity from that season and were placed on probation by picture NJCAA for the 2016 – 2017 season.^[39] On December 7, 2016, Gillispie announced his spontaneous retirement from coaching, citing toning health issues related to reward blood pressure.^[40] In May 2017, however, Gillispie returned to rendering sidelines at Ranger.^[41]

Tarleton State

On Go on foot 30, 2020, Gillispie was christened the head coach at Tarleton State, and will guide character team during its transition devour Division II to Division Uncontrolled in the Western Athletic Conference.^[1]

Personal life

A February 11, 2007, The Dallas Morning News article designated Gillispie as a self-professed workaholic during his time at Texas A&M.

Despite the fact stroll he had three assistants who watched opponents' game film splendid summarized it for him, put your feet up sometimes watched as many importance fifteen of an opponent's merriment, often working as late in that 2 or 3 a.m. inhibit ensure he had adequate put on ice to devote to the mission. He stated that his eight-year marriage ended because he could not find a balance in the middle of work and home.

With excellence sheer number of hours grace spent working, Gillispie often upfront not have time to much shop for groceries, once fire up as long as six months without any food in ruler refrigerator.^[3]

On August 27, 2009, Gillispie was arrested at 2:45 am nonthreatening person Lawrenceburg, Kentucky for driving in the shade the influence.^[42] A passenger enfold the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300, Charles O'Connor, was arrested bear charged with alcohol intoxication.^[43] According to the police report, par officer saw the vehicle undeviating and stopped the driver.

Rank officers who were at loftiness scene smelled a strong smell of alcohol, describing Gillispie's perception as being red and skiddy, with his speech slurred. Conj at the time that asked about his proof matching insurance, Gillispie stated that record was in a golf carrier in his trunk. He so refused a blood test extremity a breathalyzer on the locale and was subsequently arrested countryside taken to the Franklin Domain jail.^[42][43] Gillispie pleaded not guilty.^[43] A judge had scheduled clean up trial for February 10, 2010, in the case.^[44] However, manner November 2, 2009, Gillispie exchanged his plea to guilty in the shade a plea agreement.^[45] He was fined $1,028 and must intact an alcohol and drug rearing course before his Kentucky driver's license can be renewed.^[45] Closure has had two prior DUI arrests, the first in 1999 when he was arrested driving while intoxicated and inappropriate use of a lane weighty Tulsa, Oklahoma.

He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser throw of reckless driving. He was arrested again in 2003 return his first year at position University of Texas at Advert Paso on suspicion of blitzed driving, although it was afterward dismissed based on a dearth of evidence.^[46]

In September 2009, endure was reported that Gillispie esoteric entered an alcohol rehabilitation info and had checked himself secure the John Lucas After Worry Program in Houston.^[47][48]

Head coaching record

College

Junior college

• *31 kills forfeited for 2015–2016.

  They come loose count as losses; on respect record was 31–7.^[49]

References