legelegel
02-10-2007, 05:59 AM
Gillispie raising the bar at A&M
By John Rohde
The Oklahoman
Gilli$pie and Texa$ A&M
It appears coach Billy Gillispie will be 3-for-3 after his third season at Texas A&M.
Three years.
Three pay raises.
Given what has transpired this season, it could become double-or-nothing to keep Gillispie in College Station.
Double his salary, or he might be gone.
When he was hired, Gillispie's guaranteed package was $630,000.
After going 21-10 his first season, it was bumped up to $930,000.
After going 22-9 last season, his guarantee reached $1.3 million. (If he stays with the Aggies five more years after this season, Gillispie will receive a $1 million annuity.)
Though $1.3 million is good money, it's about half what Gillispiecould earn at big-time basketball schools.
Then again, Texas A&M actually has become a basketball school — for both men and women.
If Texas A&Mtruly is a basketball school, it might have to pay basketball-school money to keep Gillispie.
When Gillispie took the Aggies job, he dreamed what it would be like for the program to reach its potential with a huge student body and alumni offering their support.
But Gillispie admitted he didn't dream this.
"It (success) came a lot quicker than I imagined it would,” Gillispie said.
"But in this league, you have to compete or you die.”
http://newsok.com/article/3009771/ (http://newsok.com/article/3009771/)
By John Rohde
The Oklahoman
Gilli$pie and Texa$ A&M
It appears coach Billy Gillispie will be 3-for-3 after his third season at Texas A&M.
Three years.
Three pay raises.
Given what has transpired this season, it could become double-or-nothing to keep Gillispie in College Station.
Double his salary, or he might be gone.
When he was hired, Gillispie's guaranteed package was $630,000.
After going 21-10 his first season, it was bumped up to $930,000.
After going 22-9 last season, his guarantee reached $1.3 million. (If he stays with the Aggies five more years after this season, Gillispie will receive a $1 million annuity.)
Though $1.3 million is good money, it's about half what Gillispiecould earn at big-time basketball schools.
Then again, Texas A&M actually has become a basketball school — for both men and women.
If Texas A&Mtruly is a basketball school, it might have to pay basketball-school money to keep Gillispie.
When Gillispie took the Aggies job, he dreamed what it would be like for the program to reach its potential with a huge student body and alumni offering their support.
But Gillispie admitted he didn't dream this.
"It (success) came a lot quicker than I imagined it would,” Gillispie said.
"But in this league, you have to compete or you die.”
http://newsok.com/article/3009771/ (http://newsok.com/article/3009771/)