Could Billy Gillispie replace Pat Knight at Texas Tech?

Billy Gillispie built his reputation by rebuilding two Texas programs.

In '02-'03, his first season as a head coach with UTEP, the Miners went just 6-24. But Gillispie brought in a stellar recruiting class, and went 24-8 in his second season, leading UTEP to the NCAA tournament. That improvement caught the eye of Texas A&M athletic director Bryan Byrne, who hired Gillispie to fill the void left when Melvin Watkins was forced to resign following a 7-21 season (he went 0-16 in the Big XII).

In '04-'05, his first season in College Station, Gillispie led the Aggies to a 21-10 record and an 8-8 finish in the Big XII, the second consecutive season he orchestrated college basketball's biggest turn around. Despite losing Antoine Wright to the draft, the Aggies were better the next season, going 21-8, 10-6, while earning their first ranking in 25 years and their first trip to the dance since 1987. They ended up knocking off fifth seeded Syracuse in the first round, before losing to LSU on a late three.


Things only got better in '06-'07, Gillispie's third season at A&M. The Aggies went 13-3 in the conference and finished second behind Kansas. They were ranked in the top 10 much of the year, getting as high as sixth in the polls. In the tournament that year, A&M reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Memphis by one. Gillispie received his second Big XII coach of the year award in three seasons.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald speculated on Wednesday that Billy Clyde could be a guy that Texas Tech would look to hire if they decided to get rid of Pat Knight.

From a basketball perspective, the hire seems to be a perfect fit. Gillispie has the track record to prove he is capable of turning a program around quickly. The flame out at Kentucky? Pin that on Gillispie's inability to handle the bright lights of Lexington.

It makes sense. Its a fit.

But I still wouldn't do it.

Because Gillispie seems like a such a miserable person.

Whether it is forcing Josh Harrellson to spend halftime of a game against Vanderbilt sitting in a bathroom stall, mocking Derrick Jasper for being out with microfracture surgery to the point that Jasper feels he has to transfer, his multiple run-ins with sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards (which may have stemmed from Gillispie being rejected by Edwards in a bar), or his well-documented drinking (and driving) problem, Gillispie is not the kind of coach that I would allow my 18 year old son to play for.

Let's say that Pat Knight does get fired this offseason. Gillispie has to be one of the first guys that they look at, if for nothing else than his track record in building programs in the state of Texas.

But keep in mind, if you hire Gillispie, you're not just hiring the basketball coach.

You're hiring Billy Gillispie the person as well.

Do so at your own risk.