RonMexico
03-28-2007, 10:54 AM
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4668232.html
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Texas A&M basketball coach Billy Gillispie will remain head coach of the basketball program he has turned into a national power, three high-ranking officials close to and within the A&M system have confirmed.
Gillispie apparently will receive a new contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $2 million a year, guarantees added to the deal that runs through 2012 and construction on the new A&M basketball facility will begin on Monday.
"The fence will go up (at the construction site) and they'll get it rolling," one official said of the 50,000-square-foot, $20 million facility that will include practice areas for men's and women's basketball, offices and training areas.
After several meetings with A&M athletic director Bill Byrne, Gillispie received notice today that the A&M Board of Regents will rubber-stamp the contract and expedite the start of construction on the facility.
Gillispie privately has given Byrne assurances that he will not accept an offer from the University of Arkansas to replace fired coach Stan Heath, nor will he pursue any other available job openings.
The announcement should become official after the A&M regents meet Thursday and Friday.
Delays in the start of construction for the facility arrived after one of the lead architects died, and because of turnover in the A&M system facility construction administration.
The A&M regents also are expected to approve general contractor SpawGlass as the new construction manager for the project and has received assurances that the facility will be completed on time.
In three seasons at A&M, Gillispie has compiled a record of 70-26, carrying the once-lowly program to an NIT bid his first season and back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament the past two years, including an appearance in the Sweet 16 this season.
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Texas A&M basketball coach Billy Gillispie will remain head coach of the basketball program he has turned into a national power, three high-ranking officials close to and within the A&M system have confirmed.
Gillispie apparently will receive a new contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $2 million a year, guarantees added to the deal that runs through 2012 and construction on the new A&M basketball facility will begin on Monday.
"The fence will go up (at the construction site) and they'll get it rolling," one official said of the 50,000-square-foot, $20 million facility that will include practice areas for men's and women's basketball, offices and training areas.
After several meetings with A&M athletic director Bill Byrne, Gillispie received notice today that the A&M Board of Regents will rubber-stamp the contract and expedite the start of construction on the facility.
Gillispie privately has given Byrne assurances that he will not accept an offer from the University of Arkansas to replace fired coach Stan Heath, nor will he pursue any other available job openings.
The announcement should become official after the A&M regents meet Thursday and Friday.
Delays in the start of construction for the facility arrived after one of the lead architects died, and because of turnover in the A&M system facility construction administration.
The A&M regents also are expected to approve general contractor SpawGlass as the new construction manager for the project and has received assurances that the facility will be completed on time.
In three seasons at A&M, Gillispie has compiled a record of 70-26, carrying the once-lowly program to an NIT bid his first season and back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament the past two years, including an appearance in the Sweet 16 this season.