COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) Arkansas wasn't appealing enough to lure basketball coach Billy Gillispie from Texas A&M. But Kentucky had no trouble tearing the coach from the team he took from the Big
Friday, April 6th 2007, 3:47 pm
By: News On 6
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) Arkansas wasn't appealing enough to lure basketball coach Billy Gillispie from Texas A&M. But Kentucky had no trouble tearing the coach from the team he took from the Big 12 basement to national prominence.
Now the Aggies are left to ponder -- what's next?
An aide says A&M athletic director Bill Byrne has a short list of candidates for the job. No names were released.
Gillispie -- in three seasons -- took the Aggies from an 0-16 Big 12 record to their first trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen since 1980.
Texas A&M finished with a school-record 27 wins.
Gillispie last week agreed to a new contract with the Aggies that increased his salary to $1.75 million.
The Associated Press reports speculation that Gillispie was in the running for the Kentucky job was fueled when A&M never announced that he'd signed.
Now Gillispie has taken the Kentucky job left vacant when Tubby Smith took over at Minnesota.
Gillispie has a seven-year deal worth $2.3 million annually -- plus incentives.
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