Another page has now been written for the on-going Billy Gillispie saga at Texas Tech.
Gillispie will not be handling the day-to-day operations for
the men’s basketball team at this time and on Tuesday evening according to a
statement from Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt, Associate Head Coach Chris Walker will assume the day-to-day responsibilities immediately.
“We
hope Billy Gillispie has a full recovery, but we cannot wait forever as we have
a basketball team that starts practice soon,” Hocutt said in a released statement
on Tuesday night. “In the meantime, Associate Head Coach Chris Walker will
assume the responsibility for day-to-day operations of our men’s basketball
program. Coach Walker will help ensure that leadership and accountability will
be in place for our student-athletes, assistant coaches and staff.”
This
announcement comes the same day that Gillispie got on a plane and left Lubbock
headed for Rochester, Minnesota to admit himself into the Mayo Clinic to treat
his stress and high blood pressure according to ESPN.com.
Gillispie
admitted himself into UMC on August 30th, for an apparent heart
attack or stroke according to the Lubbock
Avalanche-Journal, hours before the head coach was supposed to meet
face-to-face with Hocutt in a prearranged 8 a.m. meeting on August 31st,
according to Hocutt during a press conference on Wednesday.
According
to Hocutt he still wants to meet with Gillispie face-to-face, but knows the
program does need to move forward.
“We
have been seeking a swift resolution to this issue from the very beginning,” he
said in a statement on Tuesday. “We remain committed to communicating with
Billy face-to-face regarding the issues relating to the men’s basketball
program; however, time is of the essence.”