Billy Gillispie Indefinitely on Sick Leave from Texas Tech

The Texas Tech basketball team could be without head coach Billy Gillispie for a while.

Gillispie, who is in his second year with the Red Raiders, was taken to the hospital 10 days ago when he thought he was having a heart attack. He spent six days there before being released, and now Texas Tech has made it official that he will be away from the team for an indefinite amount of time.

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 17, at 12:15 p.m. ET by Ben Chodos

Texas Tech head coach Billy Gillespie has been told by doctors that he should avoid stress for the next 30 days.

Betsy Blaney of the Associated Press reported the following:

"

Billy Gillispie says doctors have ordered him to avoid any stress for 30 days to try to bring his blood pressure down.

In a text message early Monday, Gillispie confirmed he'd been treated for kidney problems and abnormal headaches while at the Mayo Clinic where he went last week.

"

This may be a tall order as Gillespie is under fire for grossly mistreating his players and is in serious jeopardy of losing his position with the Red Raiders. The article notes that Gillespie has been told by the university to stay away from the basketball program and deal with his health concerns.

---End of Update---

The news comes via the Associated Press' Jim Vetruno:

"

Texas Tech officials say Gillispie on indefinite sick leave. Unclear how long he will be out.

— Jim Vertuno (@JimVertuno) September 10, 2012"

This just further adds to the odd situation surrounding Gillespie and his standing at Texas Tech. 

Just hours before he was taken to the hospital on August 31, Texas Tech announced that the head coach would be investigated for alleged mistreatment of players and excessive practice time.  

It has since been revealed that those certain Red Raider players—leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Tolbert, in particular—don't want to play for Gillispie when he gets back. 

And so the plot thickens. 

Gillispie, who struggled immensely in his first year with Texas Tech and has really fallen from grace since landing the Kentucky head coaching job five years ago, is clearly not on good terms with his players. 

Could his leave of absence have to do with that, or is it purely because of health reasons? Is it just delaying the inevitable? If he somehow does comes back with his job intact, will his top players stay with the Red Raiders?

These and many more questions surround Gillispie and Texas Tech as the basketball program continues its unfortunate downfall.

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