Gillispie Takes Over Kentucky Men's Basketball Program

Gillispie led Texas A&M to a school record 27-7 record this season.

On Friday, the University of Kentucky named Billy Gillispie the 21st head coach in UK basketball history. Photo courtesy: University of Kentucky Athletics

LEXINGTON, KY - On Friday, the University of Kentucky named Billy Gillispie the 21st head coach in UK basketball history.

Gillispie agreed to a seven-year contract with the financial terms of the deal to be released at a later date.

“Billy Gillispie has all the qualities we were looking for in Kentucky’s next head coach,” said University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart. “He is a tireless worker, a great recruiter and is passionate about winning and winning the right way. He will make the Commonwealth proud both as a coach and a person.”

“As a lifelong University of Kentucky fan, I am excited what Billy Gillispie will bring to this program – an unmatched work ethic and exciting style of play,” said UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. “We all understand Kentucky fans expect to win, but I'm confident we have a coach who also shares Mitch Barnhart and my philosophy of winning the right way – with a clean program run with integrity.”

In just three seasons at Texas A&M, the three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year engineered one of the most amazing turnarounds in college basketball history, leading ESPN’s Steve Lavin, among others, to christen him a “miracle worker.”

In the 2006-07 season, Gillispie, who was a finalist for the 2007 Naismith National Coach of the Year and Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, led the Aggies to a school record 27-7 record which included a school best No. 3 seed in the NCAA’s, in which they advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1980.

In addition to leading the Aggies to a final No. 9 ranking in 2007, he led A&M to a top 10 ranking in both polls for 11 straight weeks.

Before the 2007 season, the last time A&M was ranked in the top 10 in either poll was Jan. 3rd, 1979, when the Aggies were ranked 10th by the AP.

The only other time A&M was ranked in the top 10 was a four-week run in the AP poll in 1959-60. That team was ranked No. 8 one week and 10th the following three weeks.

University President Dr. Lee T. Todd Statement:

“It is a great day for the Big Blue Nation. I think we’ve already seen the first test for this coach and he passed that very admirably in front of a group of fans who got together in less than four hours. I think it’s an indication, Coach, of the enthusiasm you bring to this institution.

"I’d like to begin my remarks by thanking [Kentucky athletics director] Mitch Barnhart and [Kentucky deputy director of athletics] Rob Mullens for the tremendous job that they did during this search process. It was exceedingly professional, it was extremely well done and it protected all of the entities that talked to us. We talked to some of the top coaches across the country. [Mitch] and Rob spent a lot of time on it and the athletics staff put their time into it. We started the process with the premier coaches in the country on our list, as I mentioned, and we think we found the very best one to match what we need at this institution at this time. Billy Gillispie has proven himself at every stop. The reaction that I heard when I came back from Chicago from the fans and the locker-room attendants and everybody in Rupp Arena was that they were extremely impressed with not only his level of play, but also the way he worked with his players and treated his players – the respect that they had for him and he had for them. That is very meaningful as well.

"He led Texas A&M to a 27-7 record this year, 13-3 in the Big 12. He took a team not known for its prowess on the basketball court to the Sweet Sixteen, helping them earn the No. 9 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the highest final ranking for that school. Some of the media have referred to him as the “miracle worker” for his work at UTEP just a few years ago, where he took that team from a 6-24 record his first season to an unbelievable 24-8 record and an NCAA bid that year. Such national recognition and accomplishments don’t come without hard work, and I will say that you won’t find anybody who will out-work this gentleman.

"I’m confident that he really, really wanted to be here, and that was impressive to me. We talked this morning and Mitch and I reiterated our mission to have more banners in Rupp Arena to represent this program, but ever since that, the thing I have said ever since I interviewed for this job is that the person has got to be clean and we certainly hope we’re going to be competitive. He understands that and has done that all of his coaching career. I have no doubts about that issue. I am extremely pleased. It’s great to already have someone who is 2-0 on Rupp Arena’s floor and that got a few high marks in the e-mails that I received. I want to thank all of the e-mail senders that I have heard from in the last few weeks. It has been an interesting process.”

Kentucky Players Statements:

Ramel Bradley, Jr.

On Coach Gillispie’s style of play:

“It sounds good. I’m looking forward to his style, to stay aggressive, and put up some shots. Sounds like we’ll run a little more and you know I like that.”

On the last two weeks:

“It’s been crazy, a weird feeling. To lose a coach, and then get one so soon, it’s all just shocking, just need to regroup a little. We all tried to handle the situation together, and the best we could. Things happened quickly, but that’s life, and you just need to deal with change sometimes.”

On meeting Coach Gillispie for the first time and possibility of him leaving:

“He just gave me a smile, and all I can do is welcome him with an open mind, and smile back. I never thought about leaving, so it’s pretty easy to welcome a new coach. I just need to regroup, let it all soak in, and move forward the best I can.”

Joe Crawford, Jr.

On the change to a new coach:

“Change can be good. Everyone’s positive, and we’ll move forward as a team and do what we need to do.”

On the rumors of different coaches the past couple of weeks:

“It was pretty tough to hear some of the rumors. We all tried not to think about it, but it was obviously there. We have a coach to lead us now, and some directions, so I think we’re all ready to move forward.”

On Coach Gillispie’s style of play:

“I like that he talked about aggressiveness on both offense and defense. His style should work here with the guys we already have here. It will be more exciting, and I’m excited for the new start.”

Derrick Jasper, Fr.

On meeting Coach Gillispie for the first time:

"I think he’s a great guy and a great coach. It was a little awkward at first, because we didn’t know what to expect. As soon as we heard him give us a speech we knew he was the right man for the job. He told us he wants to cut down some nets, and he gave us confidence.”

On Coach Gillispie’s style of play:

“I like what he said about letting his players initiate the style. I think he will play to the talent of the players.”

Jared Carter, So.

On the progress of his shoulder:

“Right now I am about 95% healed, and I should be able to start practicing in about a month. I’m already in the weight room, and it really feels like nothing has happened to it.”

On his first impression of Coach Gillispie:

“We had a meeting earlier this morning, and he told us he was ready to get to work and prepare for next season. He doesn’t want to wait and feel things out. He wants to get started right away.”

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