Associate coach reportedly will replace Tech's Gillispie
BY BETSY BLANEY Associated Press
Friday, October 05, 2012
10/05/12 at 6:02 AM
LUBBOCK, Texas - Associate coach Chris Walker will be the interim head basketball coach at Texas Tech, replacing Billy Gillispie, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Gillispie resigned Sept. 20, citing health concerns and with the university investigating allegations that he mistreated some of his players. He led the Red Raiders to an 8-23 record in his only season in Lubbock.
Walker took over day-to-day operations of the program Sept. 7 after athletic director Kirby Hocutt told Gillispie he needed to focus on his health.
Walker came to the program last year after two seasons at his alma mater Villanova, where he was an assistant under Jay Wright. He has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience, including four teams that went to the NCAA Tournament - Villanova twice, Vanderbilt and Pepperdine.
Before coaching at Villanova, Walker was an assistant for Steve Alford for two years at New Mexico.
Gillispie's team got just one Big 12 win last year in Texas Tech's worst season since 1990-91.
In January, the school reprimanded Gillispie and assistant coach Brooks Jennings after a review found the team had exceeded practice-time limits in 2011. The school reported the secondary violation to the NCAA and penalized itself by reducing the team's practice time by about 12 hours.
Gillispie was hospitalized Aug. 31 for six days after calling 911 just hours before he was to meet with Hocutt to discuss allegations of player mistreatment. Several players had gone to talk to Hocutt two days earlier.
Gillispie continued to have problems with his blood pressure and was told by doctors to avoid stress.
Original Print Headline: Walker takes over Tech hoops
Associated Images:
Walker
|
