Billy Gillispie is Reportedly Out at the University of Kentucky

After the University of Kentucky missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991, UK Coach Billy Gillispie is apparently out at the home of the Wildcats, according to WHAS 11 news in Louisville.

WHAS stands by its story, although noting that UK has issued a statement saying:

"UK men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie has not been fired. There have been no meetings between Gillispie and UK officials today and there is no scheduled press conference for tomorrow"

So why is Gillispie on his way out? The easy answer is that he wasn't winning when it counted, turning in a winning record, but not when it counted. That's the ultimate sin for a program with some of the most rabid and harsh fans in college sports. Like the old cliche, at UK, winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. And missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in almost 20 years is enough to want people to push you out the door.

But Pat Forde of ESPN indicates that Gillispie and indeed Kentucky's problems with him run deeper than just not winning. Since coming to Kentucky in a rush decision by the school, Billy Gillispie has never seemed to fit in with the school or grasp the fact that coaching at the University of Kentucky comes with certain unwritten rules and expectations. Gillispie was missing the polished demeanor of his predecessors Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith, and often seemed at odds with the press, his players, boosters, and the fans. And in his press conferences, he never really seemed to have the fire that the coach of a storied program needs to have. Additionally, as Pat Forde indicates in his article, Gillispie's personal life was the subject of rampant rumors among fans in Kentucky, with rumors and speculation about everything from his drinking and partying habits to his sexual orientation.

Getting rid of Billy Gillispie will not be easy for the University of Kentucky, which may leave a sour taste in the mouths of both fans and students of the school. It will reportedly cost UK $6 million dollars to get rid of Gillispie unless he agrees to a smaller buyout. After that, the school would most likely have to be ready to pay a hefty price tag for a much bigger name than Gillispie, buying out the contract of another coach and then putting a large chunk of change on the table. Names reportedly in the running for UK's new coach have included Billy Donovan, Travis Ford, John Calipari, and even former UK coach (and now coach of rival University of Louisville) Rick Pitino.