Former UK men’s basketball head coach Billy Gillispie entered a guilty plea  Monday morning in Anderson County District Court to a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol in Lawrenceburg, Ky., said the Anderson County District Court Clerk. Gillispie had his final pretrial hearing today.

According to a news release from Gillispie’s attorney, William Patrick,

Gillispie received the maximum fine for a first-time offender in the state of Kentucky. The penalty includes a fine and costs of $1,038, suspension of his driver’s license for 30 days, and completing an Alcohol Drivers Education Program during the driver’s license suspension period.

“I made a mistake and admitted my mistake today to Judge (Linda) Armstrong, and I accept the penalty she has imposed,” said Gillispie in a statement issued by Patrick. “I want to apologize to the people of Kentucky, my family and friends, and I want to thank all of those who have reached out to me over the past several months with kind words of encouragement and support.”

This was the third time Gillispie had been arrested on alcohol-related driving charges, but it was the first time he had been convicted of DUI.

Gillispie was arrested at 2:47 a.m. on Aug. 27 in Lawrenceburg, Ky., after the City of Lawrenceburg Police Department found Gillispie speeding and driving erratically. Gillispie was charged with drunken driving after being pulled over and refusing sobriety tests. He was released later that day on his own recognizance from the Franklin County Regional Jail.

Gillispie checked into the John Lucas Aftercare Program, a rehab clinic in the Houston area, on Sept. 4.

Gillispie coached the Cats to a 40-27 record in two years at the helm. He was named co-Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year for the 2007-08 season but failed to guide the Cats to the NCAA Tournament during the 2008-09 season. It was the first time UK did not play in the tournament since 1991. Gillispie was fired on March 27.