According to sources, Gillispie accepted Kentucky athletic director Mitch
Barnhart's offer late last night and will be introduced at a 1:15 p.m. EST news
conference and pep rally.
Gillispie agreed to a contract extension to remain at Texas A&M about a
week ago after the Aggies put a lucrative deal together when Arkansas made a run
at him.
However, there was no way that Gillispie, who has risen quickly after turning
around things at UTEP and Texas A&M over the past five years, was going to
spurn Kentucky.
Barnhart has struck out on Florida's Billy Donovan and Texas coach Rick
Barnes already.
Kentucky hasn't won a national title since 1998. Tubby Smith led the team to
a 22-12 record this past season and the Wildcats lost to Kansas in the second
round of the NCAA tournament.
Gillispie took a Texas A&M team that didn't win a single conference game
prior to his taking over and took them to the Sweet 16 this past season. The
Aggies were 27-7 and 70-26 in his three years in College Station.
Smith's biggest downfall may have been his inability to recruit high-profile
players. Gillispie shouldn't have much of a problem -- as he pulled in a top
recruiting class this past season, but most of his ties are in the Lone Star
State.