UK, Gillispie Settle Lawsuits

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And like that… (blow on fingers)… he was gone.

Like Keyser Soze, former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie can now disappear into the history pages of UK’s media guide.

Gillispie and UK settled their opposing lawsuits yesterday for $2.9 million.

The ex-coach had been seeking $6 million for breach of contract and fraud.  This all stemmed from his belief that the memorandum of understanding he signed with Kentucky (since he never inked an actual contract) entitled him to be paid $1.5 million per year for the years left on his agreement.

Kentucky said when firing Gillispie that they would not be paying any 6 millions bucks.

Turns out, they were right.  However, according to attorney Demetrios Anaipakos, the nearly $3 million settlement was “significantly” higher than what UK had initially offered.

Gillispie’s attorney said the coach is glad to have the case settled and that “he looks forward to coaching basketball again soon.”

That might not be so easy.  Billy G still faces DUI charges in Kentucky, the third time he’s been charged with drinking and driving.  And his former players are now opening up about his “motivational” tactics (involving bathroom stalls and rides in equipment trucks). 

It might be a while — and somewhere far from the national spotlight — before Gillispie gets another shot at coaching.