Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie placed on administrative leave amid internal investigation

Tarleton State head coach Billy Gillispie has been placed on administrative leave as the school conducts an internal investigation, The Field of 68 reported on Friday morning. ESPN has also reported on the news.

Gillispie, who has run into his fair share of trouble over the course of his tumultuous career, had led the Texans to a 78-74 record over five seasons. Assistant Glynn Cyprien will take over as acting head coach, per the report.

Tarleton State's Billy Gillispie has been placed on administrative leave as the school conducts an internal investigation, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Gillispie has had multiple issues in his past with regards to treatment of players.

Assistant Glynn Cyprien is the acting head…

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) October 3, 2025

The Texas native made his return to coaching in Division I with Tarleton State for the 2020-21 season. Following dismissals from Kentucky in 2009 and Texas Tech and 2012, Gillispie spent 2015-2020 with Ranger College. While there, Billy G led the program to a 134-31 record with three NJCAA Tournament appearances.

Gillispie’s Division I head coaching career actually began back in 2002 at UTEP, where he spent two seasons before latching on with Texas A&M. He was a smash hit with the Aggies, as he led them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 19 seasons in 2006. That season, they advanced to the Round of 32, and they took one step further to the Sweet Sixteen in 2007 (fourth appearance in school history).

This Sweet Sixteen run in 2007 included a Round of 32 victory over Louisville inside Rupp Arena just five days before Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith resigned and bolted to Minnesota. This win and program overhaul in College Station caught the eye of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart, who officially hired Gillispie on April 6, 2007.

His run in Lexington, however, was nothing short of a disaster. Along with a laundry list full of wild stories regarding his tenure, Gillispie led the Wildcats to a 40-27 record over his two seasons in charge. He was actually named SEC Coach of the Year in 2007-08 and led Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament after opening the season with a 6-7 record, but failed to make the tournament in 2009 and was let go.

His firing was the stuff of legend, as he mysteriously disappeared while news was breaking and was chased around the Joe Craft Center by local media when he arrived at the facility. “(LEX 18‘s Alan) Cutler chased him down the hall,” KSR‘s Ryan Lemond said. “It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. When John Calipari was hired, in middle of his news conference, he pointed at Alan and said, ‘Did you really chase that guy down the hallway?'”

As his career now winds down, Gillispie seems to be dealing with yet more trouble. It’s currently unknown whether or not he will return to the program at any point.