Four-time NCAA Tournament and 12-time Coach of the Year winner Billy Gillispie is set to begin his sixth season as Tarleton State’s men’s basketball head coach in 2025-26 after signing a contract extension through the end of the season.
Billie Gillispie has had a long journey in College Basketball.
Gillispie’s head coaching journey began at UTEP in 2002, where he orchestrated one of the greatest turnarounds in NCAA history. After a 6-24 campaign in his first season, Gillispie led the Miners to a WAC title and a 24-8 finish just one year later. That year, the 18-win improvement was the best in Division I, earning Gillispie Texas Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year finalist honors.
He was hired at Texas A&M in 2004, taking over a squad that finished 7-21 the previous season. Gillispie guided the Aggies to 21-10, the most significant turnaround in the nation. During three years at A&M, he secured three straight 20-win seasons, an NCAA Sweet 16 berth, and consensus Big 12 Coach of the Year recognition. The Aggies ranked in the top 10 nationally for the first time in decades and reached a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Gillispie followed his Texas success by accepting the head coaching job at the University of Kentucky in 2007. In Lexington, he posted a 40-27 record over two seasons and earned SEC Co-Coach of the Year honors in his first year after leading the Wildcats to a 12-4 league mark and an NCAA berth. Despite his initial success, Gillispie’s second year was marked by struggles, and the program failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, leading to his departure.
In 2011, Gillispie took over at Texas Tech, but resigned after one season due to health concerns. He later revived his career with a successful stint at Ranger College, leading them to an NJCAA national title game and earning National JUCO Coach of the Year.
In 2020, Tarleton State hired Gillispie as it transitioned to NCAA Division I. He’s set new program records for wins, postseason accomplishments, and individual league awards for his players.
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