Billy is coming to UK!!!

[Chuck]

Gillispie not Donovan.

Billy Gillispie will be the next UK Basketball Coach. Expect a pep rally and press conferrence later today.

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Kentucky has announced it will hold "a pep rally and a press conference" Friday afternoon to announce the hiring of the program's 21st head coach. And according to a source at Kentucky, Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie is the man the Wildcats will introduce to Big Blue Nation.

Kentucky honed in on Gillispie to replace Tubby Smith at the end of a whirlwind Thursday that began with a rebuff from Florida's Billy Donovan and included Texas coach Rick Barnes withdrawing his name from consideration. Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart asked for and received permission to talk to Gillispie on Thursday night, according to Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne.

"Coach Gillispie is one of the top coaches in the country, and we certainly do not want to lose him," Byrne said in a statement released by the school Thursday night. "At the same time, I don't want to stand in the way of anyone in the department who wants to explore another option if he or she feels it's in his best interest."

Gillispie was supposed to be en route Friday to Los Angeles for the John Wooden Award celebration Saturday. The Aggies' Acie Law IV is one of five finalists.

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Source (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2827764)

[kdown]

“Everyone in Texas knows Billy Clyde ... ”

Who's Billy Clyde, you ask?

Well, it's none other than Texas A&M head coach Billy Gillespie. And as Pete Thamel explains is his New York Times article, Gillespie is beyond dedicated to the coaching profession.

“A lot of people talk about ‘I’m married to my work’; it’s a cliché,” Texas A&M assistant coach Alvin Brooks says in the article. “Well, this dude is truly married to his work. The coaches and the players, we’re his family.”

Thamel even talked with Gillespie's ex-wife, who watches every Texas A&M game and will be in San Antonio to watch the Aggies tonight against Memphis.

Says Gillespie of his life as a basketball coach: “I probably neglect myself socially, but I’m the happiest guy in the world."

Note: Gives a whole new meaning to " full time " coach.

[whodey9]

BILLY GILLISPIE
Age: 47
High-profile mentor: Bill Self, for whom he was an assistant at Tulsa and Illinois
Up-and-comer credentials: Gillispie is credited with helping recruit Illinois’ top-10 class in 2002. He also is noted for turning around a Texas A&M team that went 7-21 the year before he arrived.
Head coaching record:
**UTEP – 2002-03, 6-24; 2003-04, 24-8 (first round)
**Texas A&M – 2004-05, 21-10; 2005-06, 22-9 (second round); 2006-07, 27-7 (Sweet16)

[Flame]

My only concern and only time will tell is according to WKYT's website where they tell where he has coached and the years, he doesn't stay anywhere for very long. 2 years? But we'll see he may like being "King of the Bluegrass".

[whodey9]

My only concern and only time will tell is according to WKYT's website where they tell where he has coached and the years, he doesn't stay anywhere for very long. 2 years? But we'll see he may like being "King of the Bluegrass".

**UTEP – 2002-03, 6-24; 2003-04, 24-8 (first round)
**Texas A&M – 2004-05, 21-10; 2005-06, 22-9 (second round); 2006-07, 27-7 (Sweet16)


UTEP was nothing more than a start as a head coach, its a stepping stone job for any coach in basketball and Gillespie took the school to the dance in his 2 year stint and then took A&M which had 6 wins prior to Billy G's arrival. His track record speaks for what he did for that program. His reward for his work at those two programs is UK, tradition, the upper echelon of all programs and the only way Billy is not at UK for more than two years is because of being fired. It won't be because he leaves to take a bigger job. IMO, there is no bigger job for this guy. Give the guy time to see what he can do.

[kdown]

My only concern is that he built A & M with junior college transfers. Don't guess that really matters in the WIN column

Since Billy G knocked off Rick in the tournament, guess they will have a rematch, in Rupp, in December

[whodey9]

It doesn't matter how you get the players as long as it is legal and JUCOS are. I think the guy once he gets settled in will recruit well to Kentucky. I hope he is able to lure in the top player in Kentucky for next year in Mason Countys Miller.

Here is what he recruited to A&M for next season, now if it is a verbal and verbal only these players can follow their coach if they so desire, if they have signed then they have to be released by the university at A&M.
5 star player
http://tamu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=2&pr_key=39241

3 strar shooting guard
http://tamu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=2&pr_key=52336

[KELTYSBOY]

This has been exhausting. I can't remember a time when some many coaches made so many changes. This year was a circus.
Congratulations to the other Billy. He'll do just fine.

[whodey9]

This has been exhausting. I can't remember a time when some many coaches made so many changes. This year was a circus.
Congratulations to the other Billy. He'll do just fine.

Agree, Huggins to WVU is not a shocker. That guy should have took the job back when it was offered to him before. He would never been scrutinized for DUI like he was at UC. On that note, I think I'll have a drink.

[kcredden]

I offer my congratulations to UK, and the people of Kentucky for getting their new couch. From what I've been getting, he sounds like a true successor to (King) Rick :). Lets hope he does prove to be.

And may U.K. soundly thrash their rivals, all the way to the Championship.

Do I get an AMEN!?

- Kc

[KELTYSBOY]

Amen!

[kybikertrash]

I'll second that Amen!

[M&L Purdon]

From what i saw of him on tv during his press confrence he seems to be a up tempo style coach who might give his players the freedom to play and not to out of position play his players like Tubby did.

[Flame]

I offer my congratulations to UK, and the people of Kentucky for getting their new couch. From what I've been getting, he sounds like a true successor to (King) Rick :). Lets hope he does prove to be.

And may U.K. soundly thrash their rivals, all the way to the Championship.

Do I get an AMEN!?

- Kc

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!