With Gillispie Gone, Aggies Pondering What's Next

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.