LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s restless two weeks are over. The Wildcats have a new coach in Billy Gillispie, who will try to restore some of the luster to college basketball’s winningest school.

Athletic department spokesman Scott Stricklin said the hiring of the former Texas A&M coach will be announced at an afternoon pep rally, followed by a news conference.

Gillispie becomes Kentucky’s sixth coach in the last 76 years. He succeeds Tubby Smith, who spent a decade in the glare of the sport’s brightest spotlight before bolting to Minnesota. Gillispie led the Aggies to the NCAA tournament’s round of 16 this year for the first time since 1980.

The Wildcats turned to Gillispie after another Billy — Florida’s Billy Donovan — decided Thursday to stay with the Gators. Texas’ Rick Barnes also indicated Thursday he wasn’t interested, but the job was never formally offered to anyone other than Gillispie.

Smith left the Wildcats after 10 seasons to coach Minnesota last month, with four years left on his contract.