Sources: Tarleton State's Billy Gillispie will not return in 2026-27.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 20, 2026
Gillispie has been dealing with health issues throughout this season and has not coached since January.
The school will begin a national search for his replacement at the conclusion of this season.
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BCG is done
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Last: 2 days ago by TempleAg97
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
MarcAg said:
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
Do you think Buzz should write it?
GrayMatter said:MarcAg said:
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
Do you think Buzz should write it?
If he writes a book it will be 8,000 pages rambling. He should stick to reading.
If loving BCG is wrong I don't wanna be right....
Quote:
"I'm trying to return, but I'm not sure what's gonna happen," Gillispie told The Dallas Morning News last week. "Kidney is great. It's blood pressure and heart related."
Health problems
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
MarcAg said:GrayMatter said:MarcAg said:
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
Do you think Buzz should write it?
If he writes a book it will be 8,000 pages rambling. He should stick to reading.
Only because he would actually write out the words of the punctuation comma like he does when he recounts a quote period
When I was in the 7th grade, I went to a summer basketball camp at (Southwest) Texas State. BCG was a grad assistant, I think, in San Marcos at the time and he was one of the camp coaches. He was everyone at camp's favorite coach and he was deeply invested in everything we did - agility, basic skills, the mental side of the game, etc. I have followed his career closely since then and was so dang excited when we hired him at A&M. There has never been a coach I more wanted to see succeed and do great things. I'm glad he got a taste of glory at UTEP, A&M, and briefly at Kentucky, but man...it's really hard to see him struggle with everything from health to personal demons.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
He's had so many healthy issues, just doesn't seem to take care of himself well. I hope the lady who donated a kidney to him is doing well, she gave BCG a new lease on life - would hope he took advantage of it by living a healthy lifestyle afterwards.
From the Weird Factoid files
Billy Gillispie - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 NCAA tourney wins, 1 NCAA Sweet 16
Billy Kennedy - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 5 NCAA tourney wins, 2 NCAA Sweet 16s
From the Weird Factoid files
Billy Gillispie - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 NCAA tourney wins, 1 NCAA Sweet 16
Billy Kennedy - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 5 NCAA tourney wins, 2 NCAA Sweet 16s
Quote:
Billy Gillispie - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 NCAA tourney wins, 1 NCAA Sweet 16
Billy Kennedy - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 5 NCAA tourney wins, 2 NCAA Sweet 16s
There has to be an alternative universe where that makes sense, right?
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
He turned our program around.
Joe Jones coached with BCG at Tarlton then left and went to UTSA. Stayed one year at UTSA then went back to Tarlton this year.
I wonder, based on BCG's health issues, if there was a plan for Joe to take over at Tarlton.
I wonder, based on BCG's health issues, if there was a plan for Joe to take over at Tarlton.
Got a Natty! said:
Joe Jones coached with BCG at Tarlton then left and went to UTSA. Stayed one year at UTSA then went back to Tarlton this year.
I wonder, based on BCG's health issues, if there was a plan for Joe to take over at Tarlton.
Cyprien is the Assoc head coach
I did not know that.
When we saw Joe at San Antonio coaches night in 2024 he had just moved to SA. He told me his dream was to get back to A&M to coach basketball in some capacity. I don't think Bucky Ball goes well with Joe's talents. But our basketball program now has 10 to 12 assistant coaches on the bench so who knows. Maybe one day Joe will have a spot.
When we saw Joe at San Antonio coaches night in 2024 he had just moved to SA. He told me his dream was to get back to A&M to coach basketball in some capacity. I don't think Bucky Ball goes well with Joe's talents. But our basketball program now has 10 to 12 assistant coaches on the bench so who knows. Maybe one day Joe will have a spot.
if you were a 90s student like me you had great football and terrible basketball
then if your favorite sport was college basketball you were in a real desert with the aggies
then came bcg and i actuall got to go to some nit games
then we made the dance
then i bought season tickets
then we made the sweet 16
but then he left and it was never the same again, until now a little bit believe it or not
turgeon complained about us
kennedy got a disease before he even started
buzz' teams were hard to watch
so that is why we worship bcg even though his numbers were the same as kennedy, because he gave a small subset of us something we wanted when we were in school but never got
then if your favorite sport was college basketball you were in a real desert with the aggies
then came bcg and i actuall got to go to some nit games
then we made the dance
then i bought season tickets
then we made the sweet 16
but then he left and it was never the same again, until now a little bit believe it or not
turgeon complained about us
kennedy got a disease before he even started
buzz' teams were hard to watch
so that is why we worship bcg even though his numbers were the same as kennedy, because he gave a small subset of us something we wanted when we were in school but never got
GrayMatter said:MarcAg said:
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
Do you think Buzz should write it?
I'm not sure about writing it, but he would certainly read it. And then tell the media that he read it.
general ulysses said:
if you were a 90s student like me you had great football and terrible basketball
then if your favorite sport was college basketball you were in a real desert with the aggies
then came bcg and i actuall got to go to some nit games
then we made the dance
then i bought season tickets
then we made the sweet 16
but then he left and it was never the same again, until now a little bit believe it or not
turgeon complained about us
kennedy got a disease before he even started
buzz' teams were hard to watch
so that is why we worship bcg even though his numbers were the same as kennedy, because he gave a small subset of us something we wanted when we were in school but never got
Though his time here was short, he had a .729 winning percentage and was 70-26 overall.
BK had a .566 winning percentage and was 151-116.
Vepp said:
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
Yep
Really wish he would have stayed and would have been able to get his issues under control
Many of my best college memories were because of that man. Hope he can get healthy and enjoy life
Zachary Klement said:general ulysses said:
if you were a 90s student like me you had great football and terrible basketball
then if your favorite sport was college basketball you were in a real desert with the aggies
then came bcg and i actuall got to go to some nit games
then we made the dance
then i bought season tickets
then we made the sweet 16
but then he left and it was never the same again, until now a little bit believe it or not
turgeon complained about us
kennedy got a disease before he even started
buzz' teams were hard to watch
so that is why we worship bcg even though his numbers were the same as kennedy, because he gave a small subset of us something we wanted when we were in school but never got
Though his time here was short, he had a .729 winning percentage and was 70-26 overall.
BK had a .566 winning percentage and was 151-116.
I think the worst part about bk for me is in every season, but maybe 1, it felt like we underachieved relative to talent.
That's a lot less fun to watch.
Complete Idiot said:
He's had so many healthy issues, just doesn't seem to take care of himself well. I hope the lady who donated a kidney to him is doing well, she gave BCG a new lease on life - would hope he took advantage of it by living a healthy lifestyle afterwards.
From the Weird Factoid files
Billy Gillispie - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 NCAA tourney wins, 1 NCAA Sweet 16
Billy Kennedy - 4 NCAA tourney appearances, 5 NCAA tourney wins, 2 NCAA Sweet 16s
Also:
Kennedy - 19 seasons, 5 conference championships (Southland, OVC, SEC), 0.551 career winning %
BCG - 14 season, 1 conference championship (WAC), 0.554 career winning %
im really disappointed i didnt get to see a movie about A&M BB or BCG starring Joe Pesci.
BCG had the most fundamentally sound teams I've witnessed at A&M. Our defense was actually fun to watch. He's had quite a journey and I wish him the best.
MarcAg said:GrayMatter said:MarcAg said:
You could write a book just about his time at Tarleton.
Do you think Buzz should write it?
If he writes a book it will be 8,000 pages rambling. He should stick to reading.
I'd like to write some thank you notes for this.
Sterling82 said:
BCG had the most fundamentally sound teams I've witnessed at A&M. Our defense was actually fun to watch. He's had quite a journey and I wish him the best.
With NIL BCG could have been amazing at A&M.
Muy said:Sterling82 said:
BCG had the most fundamentally sound teams I've witnessed at A&M. Our defense was actually fun to watch. He's had quite a journey and I wish him the best.
With NIL BCG could have been amazing at A&M.
For all intents and purposes, BCG had NIL at Kentucky. His teams sucked.
Vepp said:
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
BCG did amazing job of waking up the dead and dormant A&M basketball program
As a great a job he was able to accomplish here, BCG never came close to creating that magic at other programs including at tceh...
I guess this type of magic is very rare and may be not all reproducible...better way to look at it, at least he had one brief shining moment @ A&M we got to enjoy.
OKC~Ag said:Vepp said:
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
BCG did amazing job of waking up the dead and dormant A&M basketball program
As a great a job he was able to accomplish here, BCG never came close to creating that magic at other programs including at tceh...
I guess this type of magic is very rare and may be not all reproducible...better way to look at it, at least he had one brief shining moment @ A&M we got to enjoy.
He woke up a dead program that did not win a conference game to a respectable program that made it to the Dance. But there are dozens of programs that would have fired him if all he did was get them to the dance. I don't feel compelled to canonize a guy that took the team to one Sweet 16...and lost. Perhaps that is because I am from North Carolina, where various schools have won 13 titles and gone to 44 Final Fours. My perspective on excellence in college basketball is more than a little skewed.
It is very skewed.
It is likely that when BCG arrived at A&M, it was the worst, least coveted power conference job. We took a chance hiring him, but he also took a huge chance accepting the job. Had he not left UTEP for A&M, there's a very good chance we would have ended up hiring another Watkins/Barone type of coach…someone who would have brought some promise, but ultimately produced another several years of trash basketball. Without BCG, there's is no Turge, Kennedy, Buzz, or Buckyball.
It is likely that when BCG arrived at A&M, it was the worst, least coveted power conference job. We took a chance hiring him, but he also took a huge chance accepting the job. Had he not left UTEP for A&M, there's a very good chance we would have ended up hiring another Watkins/Barone type of coach…someone who would have brought some promise, but ultimately produced another several years of trash basketball. Without BCG, there's is no Turge, Kennedy, Buzz, or Buckyball.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
OKC~Ag said:Vepp said:
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
BCG never came close to creating that magic at other programs including at tceh....
He didn't have time to create the magic at Tech, much less time to unpack his underwear
I don't think you have any understanding of why Texas A&M has had trouble doing what you imagine everyone does. But we beat Dean in 1980…using his own offense…8T2 said:OKC~Ag said:Vepp said:
My favorite basketball coach of all time. His drive and passion for ball is unrelenting. He obviously had issues with alcohol and anger, but the man was in the 99th percentile of d1 coaches when things lined up.
Oh what could have been; not only here, but for the sport in general.
BCG did amazing job of waking up the dead and dormant A&M basketball program
As a great a job he was able to accomplish here, BCG never came close to creating that magic at other programs including at tceh...
I guess this type of magic is very rare and may be not all reproducible...better way to look at it, at least he had one brief shining moment @ A&M we got to enjoy.
He woke up a dead program that did not win a conference game to a respectable program that made it to the Dance. But there are dozens of programs that would have fired him if all he did was get them to the dance. I don't feel compelled to canonize a guy that took the team to one Sweet 16...and lost. Perhaps that is because I am from North Carolina, where various schools have won 13 titles and gone to 44 Final Fours. My perspective on excellence in college basketball is more than a little skewed.
It's official: Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie, who has been away from the bench for more than a month because of medical issues, won't return next season, the school announced Friday.
Glenn Cyprien was named acting head coach on Jan. 30, after Gillespie stepped down.
Glenn Cyprien was named acting head coach on Jan. 30, after Gillespie stepped down.
BCG gave me some of the happiest moments of my life and I will always be thankful to him for that. Being in Reed for "the shot", the roar of the crowd when the Ags came out to the floor at the Alamodome for the Sweet 16, and much more were sweet and amazing moments!
Gigem314
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