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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A basket of baseballs during a game between Indiana State and Elon at Walter C. Latham Park on March 1, 2020 in Elon, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Larry Hays

From a relatively anonymous coach, we go to a Lubbock legend, Larry Hays. The long-time Texas Tech baseball head coach is an NCAA icon who was the man at Tech for 22 years, 12 of which came in Big 12 play.

From 1997-2008, Hays led Tech to seven NCAA Tournaments including six-straight from ’97-02 (part of a run of eight straight overall). He also captured the 1997 regular-season title and the 1998 Big 12 Tournament championship.

Amazingly, Hays had only two losing seasons, his first and his last with the Red Raiders. That means that in 11 of his Big 12 seasons, his team was over .500.

But he is not just a Texas Tech legend. Rather, he’s a Lubbock legend as he is also held in high regard across town at LCU. There he was the head coach for 16 seasons posting 695 wins and the 1983 NAIA National Title.

In 2008, his final year, Hays became just the fifth coach in NCAA history to earn his 1,500th career win. In all, 813 of his victories came for the Double T and 441 came during the Big 12 era. That’s why he most certainly deserves a place on this list.

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