Kentucky fires Billy Gillispie
I wrote earlier today about Billy Gillispie being in limbo, and now he’s not. He’s just been fired.
Billy Gillispie is out as coach of Kentucky in his second season at the helm, and the school has called a 4:30 p.m. news conference to announce the change.
School officials had been quiet about Gillispie’s job status after the Wildcats tumbled through the second half of the season to finish 22-14, tied for the second-most losses in the program’s 106-year history.
When something like this happens, I wonder if his fate was sealed after the team missed the NCAA tournament or if a NIT championship would have been enough to buy him another season.
Let the rumor mill begin…Billy Donovan? Rick Pitino?
You have to think that UK wouldn’t make this move unless they had a plan in place.
You would think they had a plan. But, here in Kentucky, we’re not so sure. It’s obvious Lee Todd hated Gillispie by the season’s end, but so far none of the rumors of marquee coaches are panning out. Donovan’s already taken his name out of consideration. As far fate being sealed by not making the NCAA, Rupp and Pitino had the same fate. Barnhart is fond of noting how they endured the first few years of Rich Brooks. They were incredibly awful. Now they’re going to bowls. So, one would assume patience isn’t the issue. This year was ugly, but the recruits he has waiting to play make next year’s team a potential top 10. So, recruiting’s not the issue. The issue is simply he didn’t play nice. This sends I think a dangerous message out to those marquee coaches they say they’re going to talk to. Wins and losses don’t matter, recruiting doesn’t really matter all that much. Just play nice and make sure your boss likes you and all is good. If he decides he doesn’t like you, you’re gone. Competitors like Donovan I’m sure got the message delivered this morning. So, I don’t really see a true basketball coach wanting to deal with all the distractions that come with the position. So, really, at this point, I’m expecting an under-the-radar former UK player to get it like Travis Ford or John Pelphrey. If that happens, I truly do expect to see some of those five-star recruits Gillispie got to bolt. It could get a lot uglier before it gets any better.
Unless of course, they did have a plan before their ill-prepared press meeting today. Somehow, at this point, I’m having my doubts, obviously.