Lubbock, Texas ? Texas Tech hired Billy Gillispie as the new men’s basketball coach, two seasons after he was fired at Kentucky.

Gillispie will be introduced Wednesday at a news conference, school athletics spokesman Blayne Beal said Sunday. Gillispie replaces Pat Knight, who was fired this month.

In 2009, Kentucky fired Gillispie after the Wildcats went 40-27 in his two seasons and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years.

He agreed to a five-year contract, according to a statement released by the school.

“I can’t wait to get started,” Gillispie said in the statement. “Texas Tech is a great school that is located in a great community and is part of one of the toughest conferences in the country.”