Billy Gillispie on Leave at Tarleton State Amid Inquiry

Tarleton State men’s basketball head coach Billy Gillispie has been placed on temporary administrative leave pending an employee conduct review, the university announced. This sudden development comes as the Texas A&M University System investigates an anonymous complaint filed against the coach. Consequently, Associate Head Coach Glynn Cyprien has taken over as the acting head coach for the Texans program.

The university has stated it will not comment further on this ongoing personnel matter, leaving the specific nature of the complaint and the expected timeline for the investigation undisclosed. This situation evokes a challenging sense of déjà vu for Gillispie, marking another turbulent chapter in his long and storied coaching career.

The Investigation: What We Know So Far

The announcement, made public on a Friday, sent ripples through the college basketball community. University officials confirmed the initiation of an employee conduct review after receiving an anonymous complaint. Placing a staff member on administrative leave is a standard procedural step in such situations, allowing for an unimpeded and impartial investigation.

In the interim, the basketball program’s leadership falls to Glynn Cyprien. Cyprien, who was recently promoted to Associate Head Coach by Gillispie just weeks before this event, is a seasoned coach with nearly three decades of experience at the Division I and professional levels. He now faces the immediate task of steering the team through this period of uncertainty. The Texans are scheduled to open their regular season on November 3 at SMU, ensuring that preparations for the upcoming campaign continue without interruption.

A Look at Gillispie’s Past Allegations

While the details of the current complaint at Tarleton State remain private, this is not the first time Coach Gillispie has faced allegations concerning his treatment of players. Understanding his history provides essential context for the present situation.

Previous Incidents at Major Programs:

• Texas Tech (2011-2012): Gillispie resigned from his position at Texas Tech in September 2012, citing health concerns. However, his resignation came approximately one month after the school initiated an investigation into player concerns about his treatment of them. The allegations at that time included exceeding NCAA practice time limits and making injured players practice.
• University of Kentucky (2007-2009): After two seasons, Kentucky fired Gillispie in 2009, with the athletic director simply stating he “wasn’t the right fit for the program”. While specific details were scarce, questions about his coaching style, including the treatment of players and staff, were noted during his tenure. The university later reached a $3 million settlement with Gillispie over his firing.

This pattern of past controversies forms the backdrop against which the current investigation at Tarleton State is unfolding.

Billy Gillispie’s Coaching Journey: From Turnarounds to Turmoil

Billy Gillispie’s career has been a compelling mix of remarkable program resurrections and abrupt, controversy-filled departures. His journey through the coaching ranks demonstrates his significant basketball acumen, even as his methods have often been scrutinized.

The table below summarizes his head coaching record at the Division I level:

A Reputation for Remarkable Rebuilds

Gillispie first gained national acclaim for his ability to engineer stunning program turnarounds. At UTEP, he took a team that finished 6-24 in his first year to a 24-8 record and an NCAA tournament berth in his second, a stunning 18-game improvement that was the best in the nation that season. He repeated this feat at Texas A&M, transforming a 7-21 squad into a 21-10 team in his first season, which was again the most significant turnaround in Division I. This made him the only coach to lead the nation’s most improved team in consecutive seasons at different schools.

A Career Meteoric Rise and Subsequent Struggles

His success at Texas A&M, which included multiple NCAA tournament appearances and Coach of the Year honors, led to one of the most prestigious jobs in college basketball: head coach at the University of Kentucky. However, his tenure in Lexington was short-lived. Despite a winning record and an NCAA tournament appearance in his first year, the team missed the tournament in his second season, leading to his firing. After a stint away from high-profile coaching, he resurfaced at Texas Tech, where his tenure ended abruptly after one season amid the earlier mentioned allegations.

Before the current investigation, Gillispie had been working to rebuild his career at Tarleton State. Hired in 2020, he was tasked with guiding the program through its transition from Division II to Division I. Under his leadership, the Texans showed promise, including a 25-10 record in the 2023-24 season and appearances in postseason tournaments like the CIT. His tenure at Tarleton has also been interrupted by health issues; he temporarily stepped away from the team for medical reasons during the 2023-24 season, with assistant Joseph Jones taking over and earning WAC Coach of the Year honors.

What’s Next for Tarleton State Basketball?

The immediate future for the Texans is now in the hands of Acting Head Coach Glynn Cyprien. Fortunately for the team, Cyprien is a veteran assistant with a wealth of experience. He has been part of over 560 victories at the collegiate level and has experience from 12 NCAA Tournaments and even a stint with the Nigerian National Team. His long-standing professional relationship with Gillispie, dating back to their time together at Kentucky, provides a level of continuity that could be crucial for player stability.

The program must now navigate the dual challenges of an ongoing external investigation and the pressures of preparing for a new season. The university’s commitment to a thorough review means the timeline for a resolution is uncertain. For the players, staff, and fans, it is a waiting game. The upcoming season will be a true test of the program’s resilience and Cyprien’s leadership.

Conclusion

The decision to place Billy Gillispie on administrative leave marks a significant moment for Tarleton State University. It highlights the ongoing scrutiny of coaching methods in college athletics and underscores the importance of institutional oversight. While Gillispie’s legacy as a master of program turnarounds is secure, his career remains equally defined by controversy and abrupt endings. As the investigation proceeds, the college basketball world will be watching closely to see how this latest chapter unfolds for the coach and the program he has led for the past five years. Follow our coverage for the latest updates on this developing story.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the specific complaint against Billy Gillispie?

The university has not disclosed the specific nature of the anonymous complaint. The Texas A&M University System has only confirmed it has initiated an employee conduct review, and they will not comment further during the ongoing investigation.

2. Who is Glynn Cyprien?

Glynn Cyprien is the Associate Head Coach for Tarleton State men’s basketball. He is a veteran coach with nearly 30 years of experience at the Division I and professional levels. He has now been named the acting head coach during Coach Gillispie’s leave.

3. Has Billy Gillispie faced similar issues before?

Yes. Gillispie resigned from Texas Tech in 2012 after the school investigated player concerns about his treatment of them. Furthermore, his treatment of players and staff was also questioned during his tenure at the University of Kentucky.

4. How long will the investigation take?

The university has not provided any timeline for how long the investigation might take. Officials have stated there is no set timeline, and they will not be commenting further until the process is complete.

5. Will Glynn Cyprien coach the entire season?

This remains uncertain. Cyprien will serve as the acting head coach for as long as Billy Gillispie remains on administrative leave. His tenure will last for the duration of the investigation, the outcome of which will determine the program’s long-term leadership.

👉For more Sports news-> Click Here!