Gillispie Resigns From Texas Tech

Billy Gillispie’s brief tenure as the basketball coach at Texas Tech has come to an end.

Gillispie resigned from the position, citing health reasons, according to a statement released Thursday from the athletic department.

The resignation comes at the end of a strange saga that has played out over the course of the last three weeks, one that included allegations of player mistreatment and violations of NCAA rules regarding practice time.

Adding to the ordeal has been a litany of health issues for Gillispie, whose tenure in Lubbock will end after just 18 months and one season.

“Billy has decided to focus on his health and we wish him a full recovery, Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt said in the statement. We are proud of the young men that he has brought to this campus. Billy’s decision allows him to concentrate on his well-being and allows us to turn our attention to preparations for the upcoming season.”

Gillispie did not immediately return a text message seeking comment from the Avalanche-Journal.

Associate head coach Chris Walker, who last week was put in charge of the program’s day-to-day operations for the time being, will continue in that role until an interim coach can be named for the 2012-13 season, according to the statement from Tech.

Gillispie recently returned from a brief stay at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he was treated for abnormal headaches, kidney problems and high blood pressure. Upon his return, Gillispie confirmed through a text message he had been ordered by doctors to avoid stressful environments for at least 30 days.

Gillispie will be paid the remainder of his salary for the year through April 30, about $467, 000.

Tech announced on Aug. 31 it was investigating Gillispie’s leadership as the result of a meeting between Hocutt and a group of Tech players two days earlier, during which the players raised concerns about the way they were being treated by the second-year coach.

Gillispie Resigns From Texas Tech

Amarillo.com

http://amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2012-09-21/embattled-tech-basketball-coach-resigns-cites-health-reasons

Billy Gillispie’s brief tenure as the basketball coach at Texas Tech has come to an end.

Gillispie resigned from the position, citing health reasons, according to a statement released Thursday from the athletic department.

The resignation comes at the end of a strange saga that has played out over the course of the last three weeks, one that included allegations of player mistreatment and violations of NCAA rules regarding practice time.

Adding to the ordeal has been a litany of health issues for Gillispie, whose tenure in Lubbock will end after just 18 months and one season.

“Billy has decided to focus on his health and we wish him a full recovery, Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt said in the statement. We are proud of the young men that he has brought to this campus. Billy’s decision allows him to concentrate on his well-being and allows us to turn our attention to preparations for the upcoming season.”

Gillispie did not immediately return a text message seeking comment from the Avalanche-Journal.

Associate head coach Chris Walker, who last week was put in charge of the program’s day-to-day operations for the time being, will continue in that role until an interim coach can be named for the 2012-13 season, according to the statement from Tech.

Gillispie recently returned from a brief stay at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he was treated for abnormal headaches, kidney problems and high blood pressure. Upon his return, Gillispie confirmed through a text message he had been ordered by doctors to avoid stressful environments for at least 30 days.

Gillispie will be paid the remainder of his salary for the year through April 30, about $467, 000.

Tech announced on Aug. 31 it was investigating Gillispie’s leadership as the result of a meeting between Hocutt and a group of Tech players two days earlier, during which the players raised concerns about the way they were being treated by the second-year coach.