2002–2003
In his first season as a head coach, the UTEP Miners finished a dismal 6–24. Despite the poor showing, Gillispie put his recruiting expertise to work so that his first recruiting class ranked in the top 25 in the country and included Filiberto Rivera, the 2003 National Junior College Player of the Year, and Omar Thomas, the all-time leading scorer in junior college basketball.[7]
[edit] 2003–2004
In the exhibition games preceding the 2003–04 season, Gillispie's Texas–El Paso Miners defeated the famous Harlem Globetrotters 89–88, after Harlem had already defeated many college teams including Syracuse, the then-defending national champion. It was the first defeat the Harlem Globetrotters had suffered in 289 games.[8]
Although the Miners were predicted to finish ninth in the WAC the following season (2003–04), they instead captured their first conference title in 12 years. The team finished 24–8 and received a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 18-win improvement was the best in Division I basketball that season, and one of the best in Division I history. As a result of their success, the Miners built a huge home following, ranking first in the NCAA in increased attendance. After his second season with the Miners, Gillispie was named Texas coach of the Year by the TABC and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors.[7]