By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
His son asks to stay as interim FAMU coach
Florida A&M assistant men's basketball coach Mike Gillespie Jr. said he would like Athletic Director Nelson Townsend to name him interim head men's basketball coach for the 2007-08 season.
Gillespie's father, Mike Gillespie Sr., was fired by FAMU President James Ammons Tuesday morning, nearly three months after his arrest May 25 on one count of misdemeanor stalking.
Gillespie Sr. has been on paid administrative leave since May 29 and will remain on paid leave through Nov. 2.
Attorney Tim Jansen, who is representing Gillespie Sr., said he and his client were blindsided by Ammons' decision, especially after meeting with him, Townsend and the university's general counsel three weeks ago.
"It was a very productive meeting," Jansen said. "They were very complimentary of the coach. They were pleased with the progress he had made. There was no indication coming out of that meeting that he would be terminated."
Jansen said he received a call from the university a week after the meeting and was again given no indication that a decision on his client's employment status was forthcoming.
Gillespie Sr. still has one year remaining on his contract. Ammons did not indicate in the termination letter he wrote to Gillespie Sr. on Monday whether he intended to pay Gillespie what he is owed on that contract beyond Nov. 2.
Gillespie Jr. said he met with Townsend on Tuesday and was told that he and assistant coach Avery Curry would remain on staff at least until a new coach was hired.
"(Townsend) said he was unsure in which direction the administration was going, but that it was his hope that Avery and I could still be a part of the program," Gillespie Jr. told the Tallahassee Democrat by phone Tuesday evening.
"I told him it was my desire to be named interim coach for the remainder of the season. I thought Avery and I deserved that chance. We recruited these guys and helped lead them to a championship."
Townsend did not return several phone calls Tuesday.
Gillespie Jr. joined his father's staff as an assistant coach at FAMU in 2002. Prior to that, he served as assistant men's basketball coach at Mercer University from 1997-2002. His other coaching experience includes serving as associate head men's basketball coach at Thomas College from 1996-1997 and as assistant men's basketball coach at Tallahassee Community College from 1995-1996.
"I hope that we can finish what we started," Gillespie Jr. said. "I hope that the president and Mr. Townsend will look at my 12 years of coaching experience and see that I've earned the right to see this team through the season."
Gillespie Jr. said all the returning players and incoming recruits were called to be notified of the coaching change. He said three of the five incoming recruits were considering not reporting to campus after hearing the news Tuesday.
The fall semester begins in two weeks, and Gillespie Jr. said there is still plenty to get done in preparation for the upcoming season, including finalizing the schedule.
Gillespie Jr. said a home game against a non-Division I opponent had been taken off the schedule and that it was going to be replaced by a guarantee game against a Big 12 opponent. Gillespie Jr. said he couldn't name the school until the contract had been signed. He said that game would bring the team's total guarantee games to seven on the season, bringing in a gross revenue of $400,000.
While none of FAMU's current men's basketball players could be reached for comment Tuesday, former All-MEAC point guard Tony Tate expressed his disappointment in Gillespie's firing.
"That's a good man right there," Tate said. "He loves his players. The best thing he did for me was give me the opportunity to express my creativity.
"He pushed me to get my degree. He's a real good person. I can't say anything bad about him. He cared about us outside of the court. It's a big loss for FAMU, I tell you that."
His son asks to stay as interim FAMU coach
Florida A&M assistant men's basketball coach Mike Gillespie Jr. said he would like Athletic Director Nelson Townsend to name him interim head men's basketball coach for the 2007-08 season.
Gillespie's father, Mike Gillespie Sr., was fired by FAMU President James Ammons Tuesday morning, nearly three months after his arrest May 25 on one count of misdemeanor stalking.
Gillespie Sr. has been on paid administrative leave since May 29 and will remain on paid leave through Nov. 2.
Attorney Tim Jansen, who is representing Gillespie Sr., said he and his client were blindsided by Ammons' decision, especially after meeting with him, Townsend and the university's general counsel three weeks ago.
"It was a very productive meeting," Jansen said. "They were very complimentary of the coach. They were pleased with the progress he had made. There was no indication coming out of that meeting that he would be terminated."
Jansen said he received a call from the university a week after the meeting and was again given no indication that a decision on his client's employment status was forthcoming.
Gillespie Sr. still has one year remaining on his contract. Ammons did not indicate in the termination letter he wrote to Gillespie Sr. on Monday whether he intended to pay Gillespie what he is owed on that contract beyond Nov. 2.
Gillespie Jr. said he met with Townsend on Tuesday and was told that he and assistant coach Avery Curry would remain on staff at least until a new coach was hired.
"(Townsend) said he was unsure in which direction the administration was going, but that it was his hope that Avery and I could still be a part of the program," Gillespie Jr. told the Tallahassee Democrat by phone Tuesday evening.
"I told him it was my desire to be named interim coach for the remainder of the season. I thought Avery and I deserved that chance. We recruited these guys and helped lead them to a championship."
Townsend did not return several phone calls Tuesday.
Gillespie Jr. joined his father's staff as an assistant coach at FAMU in 2002. Prior to that, he served as assistant men's basketball coach at Mercer University from 1997-2002. His other coaching experience includes serving as associate head men's basketball coach at Thomas College from 1996-1997 and as assistant men's basketball coach at Tallahassee Community College from 1995-1996.
"I hope that we can finish what we started," Gillespie Jr. said. "I hope that the president and Mr. Townsend will look at my 12 years of coaching experience and see that I've earned the right to see this team through the season."
Gillespie Jr. said all the returning players and incoming recruits were called to be notified of the coaching change. He said three of the five incoming recruits were considering not reporting to campus after hearing the news Tuesday.
The fall semester begins in two weeks, and Gillespie Jr. said there is still plenty to get done in preparation for the upcoming season, including finalizing the schedule.
Gillespie Jr. said a home game against a non-Division I opponent had been taken off the schedule and that it was going to be replaced by a guarantee game against a Big 12 opponent. Gillespie Jr. said he couldn't name the school until the contract had been signed. He said that game would bring the team's total guarantee games to seven on the season, bringing in a gross revenue of $400,000.
While none of FAMU's current men's basketball players could be reached for comment Tuesday, former All-MEAC point guard Tony Tate expressed his disappointment in Gillespie's firing.
"That's a good man right there," Tate said. "He loves his players. The best thing he did for me was give me the opportunity to express my creativity.
"He pushed me to get my degree. He's a real good person. I can't say anything bad about him. He cared about us outside of the court. It's a big loss for FAMU, I tell you that."
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From the Orlando Sentinel 8.14.2007
Gillespie, who is married, was accused of stalking a former girlfriend who had sought to end their relationship for more than two years.
Police warned the coach in 2005 and again the night before he was arrested in May to stay away from the woman. He was arrested after driving by her workplace the morning after the latest warning.
"We were left with no alternative," Tallahassee police spokesman David McCranie said at the time of the arrest. "This was a clear case of stalking. It's been going on since 2005."
Prosescutor Georgia Cappleman said Tuesday a case management hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29 when the state will offer Gillespie probation with some specific requirements.
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