leroyjenkins
03-26-2007, 10:31 PM
March 26, 2007, 7:01PM
Basketball excellence may net A&M's Gillispie more rewards
By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
It appears Texas A&M men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie is headed for a contract extension and a raise as reward for a record-breaking Sweet 16 season and perhaps to ward off overtures from other programs.
The Board of Regents for the Texas A&M System will vote to approve the new deal during scheduled meetings Thursday and Friday in College Station, according to the agenda posted on the school's website over the weekend. Gillispie's contract was added to the original agenda that was set last month.
Gillispie, who guided the program to a record 27 wins this season and to the school's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth since 1980, is currently working under a contract that was extended last season to 2012.
Under that contract, Gillispie makes over $1 million annually and has a clause for a seven-figure bonus should he remain at the school until the end of the contract.
Texas A&M is perhaps acting fast because of rumors of Arkansas' and Kentucky's interest in Gillispie for their recently vacated head-coaching positions. Reports today have Gillispie already in Fayetteville, Ark., interviewing for the Razorbacks post just hours after Stan Heath was fired. Another report had the school prepared to introduce Gillispie as the head coach as early as Tuesday.
The problem with both those rumors is that Gillispie is in his office at Texas A&M, according to several people in the athletic department, including associate athletic director Alan Cannon and associate sports information director Colin Killian.
Gillispie, who just completed his third season at A&M, received an extension on his original contract after guiding the Aggies to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly 20 years. A&M has now received back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths for the first time in school history.
Basketball excellence may net A&M's Gillispie more rewards
By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
It appears Texas A&M men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie is headed for a contract extension and a raise as reward for a record-breaking Sweet 16 season and perhaps to ward off overtures from other programs.
The Board of Regents for the Texas A&M System will vote to approve the new deal during scheduled meetings Thursday and Friday in College Station, according to the agenda posted on the school's website over the weekend. Gillispie's contract was added to the original agenda that was set last month.
Gillispie, who guided the program to a record 27 wins this season and to the school's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth since 1980, is currently working under a contract that was extended last season to 2012.
Under that contract, Gillispie makes over $1 million annually and has a clause for a seven-figure bonus should he remain at the school until the end of the contract.
Texas A&M is perhaps acting fast because of rumors of Arkansas' and Kentucky's interest in Gillispie for their recently vacated head-coaching positions. Reports today have Gillispie already in Fayetteville, Ark., interviewing for the Razorbacks post just hours after Stan Heath was fired. Another report had the school prepared to introduce Gillispie as the head coach as early as Tuesday.
The problem with both those rumors is that Gillispie is in his office at Texas A&M, according to several people in the athletic department, including associate athletic director Alan Cannon and associate sports information director Colin Killian.
Gillispie, who just completed his third season at A&M, received an extension on his original contract after guiding the Aggies to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly 20 years. A&M has now received back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths for the first time in school history.