Billy Clyde Gillispie

[Sooner23]

Tremendous coach...

Gillispie’s first flash of brilliance didn’t come on the hardwood but off the court during his first offseason as the head coach at UTEP in 2003. The Miners had just gone 6-24, the kind of record no one wants heading into their first offseason.

But thanks to two junior college transfers — the 2003 National Junior College Player of the Year Filiberto Rivera and the all-time leading scorer in junior college Omar Thomas — Gillispie amazingly pulled together a Top 25 recruiting class. The next season UTEP ended the Harlem Globetrotters’ 288-game winning streak prior to the start of the exhibition season. It proved to be a sign of things to come: the Miners went 24-8, won a regular season conference co-championship and reached the NCAA Tournament’s first round.

After his first turnaround project, Gillispie left to turnaround another program at Texas A&M. Following a season when the Aggies failed to win a conference game, the coach lead the Aggies to an 8-8 conference mark and a 21-10 record (the key to his success was padding the non-conference schedule with confidence-building cupcakes.) The following season after a 21-8 record, Texas A&M was invited to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987.

His third season? His Aggies only became the first school in the Big 12 South to ever win a game at Kansas and after a 13-3 year in the conference, Texas A&M finished second in the Big 12 and went to the Sweet Sixteen lead by Acie Law.

After leading both UTEP and Texas A&M to postseason appearances one year after poor seasons, Gillispie became the only college basketball coach to be in charge of the NCAA program with the biggest turnaround in two consecutive seasons. Gillispie is known as an excellent recruiter who has managed to put together four straight top-25 recruiting classes.

A reformed man...

"I think it's been a great year for me," he said. "I've been on the fast track for a long time professionally. I never had a chance to take a deep breath.

"I've forced myself to become educated in a lot of different areas because of some of the mistakes I've made, and I think I've used my time wisely. I think I've enriched myself as a person and helped myself as a coach.

"I don't know that this is not one of the best things that has ever happened in my life."

I am totally excited about the future. I am excited about building another program, about working within a university family and getting back to the NCAA Tournament."

Since separating from Lucas' after-care program in November, he's traveled extensively, watching games and practices and seeing how other coaches work -- including Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops.

But he also has planned a new house for his mother, who still lives in Graford. He's organized a private foundation to benefit young people on an individual-case basis. He volunteers four times a week. He said he's resumed attending church after a lapse in practice, but not in faith.

Hard worker...

Despite the fact that he had three assistants who watched opponents' game film and summarized it for him, he sometimes watched as many as fifteen of an opponent's games, often working as late as 2 or 3 a.m. to ensure he had adequate time to devote to the task. With the sheer amount of hours he spent working, Gillispie often did not have time to even shop for groceries, once going as long as six months without any food in his refrigerator.[6]

Trained by the best...

As part of Bill Self's staff, he was a member of the only coaching staff in NCAA history to lead two different schools to the Elite Eight in successive seasons.[7]

Since separating from Lucas' after-care program in November, he's traveled extensively, watching games and practices and seeing how other coaches work -- including Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops.

Feared and respected by his peers...

I'm excited for Billy to get back into coaching, I just hope it's not in the Big 12," Kansas head coach Bill Self

"I think Billy is very contrite about the circumstances he has put himself in. "He recognizes and has taken some pretty significant personal development steps to address his issues.

"I think he has a newfound purpose going forward as he looks for new opportunities, both personally and professionally." - San Antonio Spurs GM R.C. Buford

Man of the people...

Hire Billy Gillispie.

 

[Max Power]

If he comes i will take him out on Campus Corner on my Tab

 

[Romulus]

if he comes here I'll take the entire board out to O'Connells on my tab

 

[Romulus]

just do it Joe C.!
Start over and do it right this time.
Gillespie and OU both need each other

 

[jerry]

just do it Joe C.!
Start over and do it right this time.
Gillespie and OU both need each other

Agree. If he is available do it now Joe. You can get some people to pay the tab on Capel.

 

[CMSOONER]

Wonder if he would come on as an assistant.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

Wonder if he would come on as an assistant.

Mike Leach os going to work for Mike Gundy.:facepalm

 

[MercedeSooner]

"Following a season when the Aggies failed to win a conference game, the coach lead the Aggies to an 8-8 conference mark and a 21-10 record"

I'll take it come save us BCG.

 

[Sooner23]

"Following a season when the Aggies failed to win a conference game, the coach lead the Aggies to an 8-8 conference mark and a 21-10 record"

I'll take it come save us BCG.

Yep. Joe C. couldn't be walking into better situation to make this hire at this time. It's like a slam dunk for him on a 6 foot goal.

if he comes here I'll take the entire board out to O'Connells on my tab

 

[realdallassooner]

Strong recruiting ties all over the state of Texas too. And before someone rips h for his background of partying and carousing the King of OU football was the same way. Everyone deserves a second chance.

 

[sooner_15]

I hate to burst everyones bubble, but Boren won't let this happen. He won't won't a man with a drinking problem coaching at OU.

 

[MercedeSooner]

I hate to burst everyones bubble, but Boren won't let this happen. He won't won't a man with a drinking problem coaching at OU.

he's a changed man brother ! just keep him away from OU Hoops members and he's dry as can be.

 

[StoopsBros]

Please, no.

 

[pillmanj]

Please, no.

+1

 

[Romulus]

Please, no.

-1

 

[Sawyer]

I didn't see much on there about his stint at Kentucky.

He's never shown he can actually sustain success anywhere. He relied on two juco studs at UTEP, guys probably more talented than most C-USA players. He inherited two lottery picks at A&M, too. I've never been convinced he can actually build anything long-term, though.

 

[AdaSooner]

Billy Gillispie is one heck of a basketball coach! He would be the perfect fit at OU, where the majority of basketball fans want to see toughness, good fundamentals and high intensity on defense in every game, not just an occasional outing.

Clearly Billy G made some mistakes at UK. But assuming he learned from them and made some changes in his behavior to correct his errors, I would be all for giving him a second chance.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Billy Gillispie is one heck of a basketball coach! He would be the perfect fit at OU, where the majority of basketball fans want to see toughness, good fundamentals and high intensity on defense in every game, not just an occasional outing.

Clearly Billy G made some mistakes at UK. But assuming he learned from them and made some changes in his behavior to correct his errors, I would be all for giving him a second chance.

Agreed.

Given his recent problems, he could probably be hired for a reasonable amount.

 

[StoopsBros]

Someone start a poll to see if everyone wants him.

 

[Sooner23]

Agreed.

Given his recent problems, he could probably be hired for a reasonable amount.

Absolutely. You won't get a better bargain for a more proven coach with Big 12 experience and recruiting ties in the region. He'll be cheaper than Tubby Smith, Buzz Phillips, Lon Krueger or any of the other established coaches who have been mentioned, and that is important for Joe C. It's a slam dunk hire.