News / Sports
University of Kentucky to Hire Billy Gillispie to Head Wildcats Basketball
With Billy Donovan announcing his plans to remain a Florida Gator the Kentucky Wildcats set their sites on another big name head coach to run their basketball program. Enter Texas A&M’s Billy Gillispie.
The Wildcats have been looking for a replacement for Tubby Smith who bolted for the University of Minnesota head coaching job after the season wrapped up. A highly publicized push to land Donovan fell through after the 41-year-old opted to stay with the Gators. Rather than waste any time lamenting over Donovan’s decision the Wildcats quickly scooped up Gillispie as their school’s 21st head coach.
Gillispie has turned an otherwise unknown program around after three seasons at Texas A&M. During his stint the Aggies have gone 70-26 including a 27-7 record this season along with a Sweet Sixteen birth in the NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky is expected to make the announcement official later today at a pep rally. No reports have been made concerning Gillispie’s salary but had he stayed at A&M he would have received nearly $2 million for next season, making him the highest paid basketball coach in the Big-12.
