All right maybe this isn't breaking news, but Kentucky is going to call a press conference to announce that Gillispie won't be returning to Lexington.
Gillispie lead the Wildcats to the second-most loses in the programs 106-years as a program. Their 20 wins this year wasn't enough to get a NCAA tournament appearance since 1991, and they weren't eligible that year because of probation.
Gillispie's attitude in general lead to his downfall. He didn't exactly endure himself to the community. He had a high-profile run in with ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards. He was recruiting 8Th grade students.
His tenure in Lexington was a bizarre one to say the least.
The first candidate for the Kentucky job will be Florida coach Billy Donovan. He is the logical choice because of his ties to the program. It will be interesting to see you they will hire.
The rumors have been flying for a while now that Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie will be fired. While Kentucky isn't saying anything, there is speculation that Kentucky will fire Gillispie either today or in the coming days.
Also there has been the rumors of who will replace Gillispie. You hear the usual names like Billy Donovan and John Calipari. And you hear the names of rising coaches like Anthony Grant and Sean Miller. So who replaces Gillispie if he is fired?
-Florida coach Billy Donovan makes the most sense. He was an assistant there under Rick Pitino. After leading Florida to back-to-back National Championships, he was the leading candidate to replace Tubby Smith a couple of years ago. He declined the offer, accepted the Orlando Magic job, and then promptly went back to Florida. Donovan makes the most sense because of his ties to Kentucky. He knows the culture and the people around the school. Also he knows his basketball team will never be bigger than the football team at Florida. Pope Tebow and Cardinal Meyer are just too big there. He knows he would be the king of Lexington. Also he is not coming off a national championship season. He would be the perfect choice.
- Memphis coach John Calipari will always be a hot commodity. He coaches at a lower level school at Memphis and needs to be in a league with tougher competition. I don't see it. Calipari has thrived coaching at mid-major schools like Memphis and UMASS. I don't see him going anywhere.
- Anthony Grant of VCU is the wild card. Kentucky has already gone with the unproven coach in Gillispie. Why would they want Grant? He would bring in youth and energy to a program that has gone stale lately. I wouldn't turn my back on Grant yet. He hasn't joined either Georgia or Alabama yet, and he may be waiting for his shot at Kentucky.
What ever happens at Kentucky it will be interesting. I do expect Kentucky to fire Gillispie. He was a bad fit there, and he seems not get along with the boosters and alums of Kentucky. And that will be the key to whoever coaches at Lexington next.
Not only do you have to be a coach at Kentucky, you have to be part politician. You have to please the alums and boosters of that school. They want to feel loved and appreciated to. Whoever can do these things, will be successful at Kentucky.
Well one thing is for certain. If Kentucky fires Gillispie we won't have the awkward interviews anymore with Jeannine Edwards. And we won't have these tribute videos to them.
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