Gillispie Broke A Rule

I'm one of those guys that thought it would be smart to give Coach G another year. I figured he might be able to adapt a little bit, and grow into the responsibilities that the UK coach must assume outside the lines. I saw the incoming class he had put together, along with the possibility of Meeks and Patterson returning, and figured Billy Clyde would really be able to turn the corner next season. Most reasonable people agree that under normal circumstances, two years is just not long enough to make a solid evaluation. Even Mitch Barnhart stated as much-- and he's the guy that sent Gillispie packing.

Yes, I was disappointed with Coach G's media interactions, and posted here about the initial Jeanine Edwards sideline fiasco. Speaking of the four-letter-network, I was also disappointed with the so-called "all-access" segment that promised some real insight into the program. Apparently, Coach had quite a different idea than me about what "all-access" was supposed to mean.

Some of the really preposterous losses stuck in my craw, too. Your VMI, your Gardner-Webb, your Georgia on Senior Night. Egregious, one and all. Certainly the NIT is nobody's idea of what Kentucky postseason basketball should be (much as I managed to enjoy it), and let's just go ahead and hit on the stupid game-day practices, puzzling substitution patterns, and apparent mishandling of the DeAndre Liggins and AJ Stewart "incidents" while we're at it.

As far as any other flagrant rumors or innuendos regarding Coach G's personal life, I simply refuse to go there.

Now... all that being said... again-- I would have supported a decision to bring him back for another year. Personally, I just thought it prudent, considering he's been a conference Coach of the Year multiple times, he's by all accounts a very hard worker, and and he seemed to have a boatload of help on the way in the form of recruits like Orton, Hood, et al.

However, as we all know, UK President Lee Todd and AD Mitch Barnhart decided to fire Coach Gillispie. They cited the fact that they considered him to be a "bad fit", and noted that "We obviously did not achieve the results we all desired on the floor this season".

But I believe the main reason Gillispie won't be returning to the Rupp Arena sidelines is the fact that he broke a very important rule-- and obviously we're not talking about any NCAA misdeeds. It's much more basic, and some might say, much more important than any recruiting infraction, for instance. What I'm referring to is something that mothers usually teach their children, a staple of Sunday Schools across the Commonwealth. That's right: The Golden Rule.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Eleven little words that carry so much weight, and so much wisdom. It's about basic decency. Respect for other people. Simply treating your fellow man as you would wish to be treated.

Had Gillispie followed this maxim, I believe he might still be in his office today. Instead, he reamined a stubborn, intractable individual who talked down to the media, never developed a good working relationship with his superiors, alienated alumni and boosters, and by many accounts simply ran his team into the ground. The comments from the Meeks family after Coach G's dismissal seem particularly relevant here.

I truly have no interest in "piling on" with this observation. Numerous writers and commentators have weighed in regarding this particular personality deficiency in Coach G, and it can be argued that his reclacitrance is just part of the package-- and even a strength in many ways. Certainly it's true that if he had been able to channel that stubbornness properly, things could have been quite different for him in Lexington.

But if coaching the Big Blue can be compared to Greek mythology, then Gillispie's poor treatment of others must be considered just as fatal a flaw as losing 27 games in two years.

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