Lubbock, TX (Sports Network) - Billy Gillispie has resigned as the men's head basketball coach at Texas Tech because of health reasons.
The decision comes less than a month before Gillispie was set to begin his second season at the helm, with practices starting on Oct. 13.
"Billy has decided to focus on his health and we wish him a full recovery," Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said. "We are proud of the young men that he has brought to this campus. Billy's decision allows him to concentrate on his well-being and allows us to turn our attention to preparations for the upcoming season."
Despite resigning, Gillispie will be paid for the upcoming season, which would have been the second of a five-year deal he signed on March 20, 2011.
Gillispie took a leave of absence earlier this month after reports surfaced that he mistreated players in the Texas Tech program.
Assistant head coach Chris Walker was named in charge of the day-to-day operations in his absence and will keep those duties until an interim head coach is named by the school.
In his Gillispie's only season, the Red Raiders went 8-23 with a 1-17 mark in Big 12 play. Gillispie previously guided UTEP and Texas A&M before a rocky two-year stay at Kentucky from 2007-09.
