Before John Calipari, Billy Gillispie was the head coach of the Kentucky men’s basketball team.
Gillispie became Kentucky head coach in 2007 after spending a few years at Texas A&M. He lasted just 67 games in the role, winning 40 of them and missing the NCAA Tournament in 2009. It was the Wildcats’ first missed tourney in 28 years.
Who’s the Winningest Kentucky Head Coach?
Adolph Rupp has the most wins in Kentucky history. He won 876 games from 1930-72, including six national championships.
As one of the NCAA’s most storied basketball programs, Kentucky’s prowess dates back to the 1940s. The Wildcats won their first tournament title in 1948, repeated in 1949, and since have won six more. In addition to their eight national championships, the team has made 17 Final Four appearances, 42 Sweet Sixteen appearances, and 59 tournament appearances.