The Pistol Pete era, or "Gillenium," has officially come to an end, after a series of meetings throughout the past year between Virginia coach Pete Gillen and Athletic Director Craig Littlepage. At some point the pair agreed to renegotiate the terms of Gillen's buyout, and when goals for 2004-2005 were not met, the stage was set for the coach to step down.
I can only imagine the meetings between Gillen and Littlepage before the season, apparently resulting in the agreement for an NCAA appearance or lump-sum payment to void the remainder of the coach's contract.
Somehow, I picture a smoke-filled interrogation room deep in the recesses of University Hall between the powers-that-be (or were) for Virginia basketball.
At least in my mind, here's how it went.
"Pete, you know what it comes down to," Littlepage would say, a leaky faucet dripping in the background, a problem to be eliminated in the new arena under construction across the street.
"I know, I know," Gillen would reply. "My head is on the chopping block, I may walk the Green Mile -- Dante's underworld isn't far ahead. But I can win; it'll all come together this year."
Littlepage, smoking his hypothetical cigar, then blew a tuft of grey in Gillen's direction. Even in the murky light, the Virginia Board of Visitors sitting behind a double-glass mirror across the room could see sweat dripping down the coach's face.
"How about this," Gillen said with a sigh and eyes into the table in front of him. "If we don't go dancing in March, I'll take a low buyout to void the remainder of my contract."
There, at least in my imagination, was where the deal was done.
In both instances, the reality remains that Gillen believed in his team and in its ability to win. Before the season even began, he put his job on the line for it.
And for that he should be commended.
At the very least as coach at Virginia, Gillen should be applauded for his devotion and integrity. In a place where honor is held on the highest pedestal, Gillen admirably accepted a lesser buyout when he was owed $5.4 million over the next six years.
The former coach, without question a genuine and amicable person, even called next season's three recruits to break the news and ensure their commitment to Virginia.
Gillen will make a phenomenal television analyst, possibly returning as the coach of a mid-major sometime in the next two or three years. Yet, at Virginia, the one-liners could never come together to tell the story of basketball glory in the ACC. We've all heard the tale. DeSagana Diop went to the NBA Draft, Deng and Redick committed to Duke, Majestic Mapp turned his knee in a pickup game, and Jason Clark could never keep his grades up.
Now, we must bid farewell to Gillen's creative one-liners and dry Brooklyn humor. Outside of annual NCAA shortcomings, Gillen deserves credit for his adherence to personal standards and those of the Virginia community. In a sporting world filled with questionable character, Gillen's commitment and class has certainly been a breath of fresh air.
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