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Texas Tech: Ranking Kirby Hocutt’s coaching hires in Lubbock

By Andrew Gleinser

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 11 : Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is congratulated by Texas Tech Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt after the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 11, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 38-24. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 11 : Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is congratulated by Texas Tech Red Raiders athletic director Kirby Hocutt after the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 11, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 38-24. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

The Incomplete

9. Matt Wells – Football

This is still the controversial hire of the day, as Wells has lost a great deal of whatever support he might have had from fans. Many of the Red Raider faithful had never heard of him before his name surfaced and he had no ties to the university, so he never really enjoyed much of a honeymoon period. It hasn’t helped his case that he’s only 8-14 overall and just 5-13 in Big 12 play in his two seasons.

The good news is he can still move himself up this list if he can turn things around, and there’s reason to believe that’s possible. But his seat is certainly warm, and Hocutt’s job security could very well be riding on Wells’ success. It’s hard to keep your job when the big moneymaking sport continues to flounder in mediocrity.

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8. Sami Ward – Softball

It’s hard to judge this hire when Ward is in the midst of her first season, but this team has lost its first nine games in Big 12 play this year, so it’s not going great early on. But Ward has also taken over following Gregory’s resignation so it’s not exactly a pristine situation either. She’ll need some time to right the ship.

The good news is she appears to have been a strong hire, having won three WCC Coach of the Year awards during her time at Loyola Marymount. This is a program that hasn’t had a great deal of success in its history, but can certainly be a perennial winner in the right situation. We’ll see if Ward’s prior success will translate to Lubbock.

7. Krista Gerlich – Women’s Basketball

Her name already hangs in the rafters of the United Supermarkets Arena from her time as a Texas Tech player during the Marsha Sharp era. She was one of the key cogs of that national championship team in 1993, so she’s got some on-campus popularity already. That history should help her in recruiting as well.

Her first year after taking over for Stollings wasn’t great, as the Lady Raiders went 10-15 overall and 5-13 in Big 12 play. She’s also lost several players from this year’s team, though she did manage to retain top scorer Vivian Gray. Gerlich won at both West Texas A&M and UT Arlington, and she will have some time to turn this program around. Hopefully she can do it.

6. Mark Adams – Men’s Basketball

It’s hard to say where to put Adams on this list as he hasn’t coached a game or really done much of anything aside from hitting a home run in his introductory press conference. He did get Kevin McCullar and Marcus Santos-Silva to stay in Lubbock, but it also looks like Kyler Edwards, Mac McClung, Terrence Shannon and others are on their way out. He’s got his work cut out for him.

But this is undoubtedly the right hire at the right time. Adams is the architect of the team’s excellent defense and he’s a Texas Tech guy through and through. Fans wanted him, so he’ll have plenty of support as he starts his tenure. How his teams perform will determine whether he moves up or down this list.

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