Billy Gillispie

Billy Gillispie

Billy Gillispie has been arrested for a DUI early Thursday morning. Gillispie’s passenger, a male friend of his (no, not like that) was cited for alcohol intoxication. The former savior of UK basketball and the man who was supposed to dominate the landscape of college basketball (according to the message board masses) was pulled over around 2:30 am in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. When asked to take a breathalyzer test, Billy G. refused. The best part about this whole thing? When asked what he was doing, Gillispie reportedly said they were returning from playing golf. Also, confirming that Gillispie has indeed successfully stolen attention away from Rick Pitino and John Calipari, “billy gillispie” is currently the most searched for term in the world according to Google Trends. This also begs the question: which is worse, 2 vacated Final Fours or 4, count ‘em 4, DUI arrests? Police have charged former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie with drunken driving.

Police dispatcher Todd Sparrow said Lawrenceburg police arrested Gillispie and took him to the nearby Franklin County Regional (Ky.) Jail. Gillispie, who was driving a 2009 white Mercedes, was pulled over around 2:45 a.m. ET in Kentucky. He refused to take a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test, WLEX-TV in Lexington is reporting. Gillispie, 50, reportedly told police that he and his male passenger were returning from a golfing trip. The passenger was reportedly charged with public intoxication. It is the third time that Gillispie has been arrested on alcohol-related driving charges. However, in one case the charge was dismissed and in the other he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, reckless driving. Gillispie, who was fired March 27, was working under a seven-year memorandum of understanding but hadn't signed a formal contract during the two years he coached the Wildcats.

Gillispie sued the University of Kentucky Athletics Association in federal court in Dallas on May 27, claiming fraud and breach of contract. Gillispie claims the school never intended to sign him to a long-term deal. The school has denied the allegations. He is seeking at least $6 million -- about $1.5 million per year for four of the five years he says were left on his agreement. The University of Kentucky countersued Gillispie, claiming it doesn't owe him pay because he never signed a contract. UK's lawyers are asking the court to rule that the two-page memorandum of understanding Gillispie signed after his hiring in 2007 was not the equivalent of a full contract. The athletics association has asked a federal judge in Texas either to dismiss Gillispie's lawsuit over his firing or to move the case to Kentucky. In a motion filed in federal court, the association's attorneys say the school has minimum contact with the state of Texas, giving the court there no jurisdiction to hear Gillispie's claims.