LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - The University of Kentucky has a basketball coach today and he's to be introduced this afternoon.

A source close to the story tells the Associated Press that Billy Gillispie was hired as Kentucky's sixth coach in the last 76 years today to succeed Tubby Smith, who has moved on to Minnesota.

Gillispie led Texas A-&-M to the N-C-A-A tournament's round of 16 this year for the first time since 1980. He's to be introduced at a 12:15 p-m (eastern time) pep rally at Memorial Coliseum followed by a 12:45 news conference.

The Wildcats turned to Gillispie after Florida's Billy Donovan decided to stay with the Gators. The team also had permission to talk with Texas' Rick Barnes, who indicated he wasn't interested.

Gillispie has 100 victories and 58 losses in five seasons as a head coach. He spent the last three years with the Aggies, molding the longtime also-ran into a Big 12 power. Texas A-&-M went 27-and-7 this season.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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