The 57-year-old Gillispie said in a text message to The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that he's been battling high blood pressure since the summer. The former Texas A&M and Texas Tech coach said he is following the advice of doctors by leaving early in his second season at Ranger College.
Gillispie was a rising star in the coaching profession after quick rebuilding jobs at UTEP and Texas A&M, leading to the Kentucky job in 2007.
He was fired after two seasons with the Wildcats before taking the Texas Tech job following a two-year hiatus.
