Counting down the top 10 Texas Tech coaches of the Big 12 era

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Wes Kittley

There has been only one coach at Texas Tech to win a National Title during the Big 12 era. Thus, track and field head coach Wes Kittley deserves to be No. 1 on our countdown.

Having been in charge in the Hub City for 21 seasons, he’s built one of the most decorated track programs in the nation. In addition to the 2019 outdoor National Title, he has to his credit:

28 NCAA Champions
257 First Team All-Americans
173 Big 12 Champions
9 Big 12 Team Championships
13 Olympians
8 Olympic Medalists
7 Top-5 NCAA Team Finishes
14 Top-10 NCAA Team Finishes

What’s made Kittley’s career so remarkable overall is that he built a similar-caliber program at Abilene Christian prior to coming to Lubbock. There his athletes won 29 individual National Titles and his women’s program took home the 1985 Divison II title.

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It’s a shame for Kittley that track and field is not more prominent with fans than it is because he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Chris Beard and Tim Tadlock. In fact, what he’s accomplished with the Red Raiders puts to shame what any Red Raider head coach has accomplished in the Big 12 era.

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