Jim Cowsert-US Presswire
Turmoil has been surrounding the Texas Tech Red Raiders Men’s Basketball program over the past few weeks and most of it has all centered around its head coach Billy Gillispie. News surfaced two weeks ago that several players complained to Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt that Gillispie not only mistreated them verbally but that he also exceeded the time limits which were set by the NCAA. The Red Raiders returning leading scorer, forward Jordan Tolbert has already gone on record and said that he no longer wanted to play for Gillispie and that if he returned to coach the team this season he would look to transfer to a different program.
Following those reports came word that Gillispie had to be rushed to the hospital last week due to some form of health issues. Then on Monday, September 10th around 6pm, Gillispie once again had to be rushed to the hospital via ambulance following a 911 call that he made himself.
Now reports have come out that Gillispie would be checking into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for high blood pressure “amongst other things”. Prior to the second hospitalization Holcut had already stated that Gillispie would not have any say so in the day-to-day actions involving the program until all of the allegations were investigated further and now that definitely seems to be the case regardless as to the outcome of his stay at the clinic.
Coaching any sport on any level can be a very stressful profession and with all of the rumors swirling around the security or lack there of regarding his job; it could have possibly caused these serious health issues to occur. One thing is for certain Gillispie should worry about his health first before dealing with the fact of if he still has a job or not and I’m quite that is both his and his families major concern.
Hopefully Gillispe will have a speedy recovery while being treated at the world famous Mayo Clinic because while he can always get another coaching job, he can’t get another life. Hopefully coach Gillispie has a speedy recovery and can get back to doing what he loves best which is coaching college basketball either with the Red Raiders or at another university. When he does let’s hope he follows all of the rules that have been set in place for the players benefits.
