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Let's laugh at Aggies who think they can lure Gran McCasland away from Texas Tech

Texas A&M needs a new basketball coach, and some delusional Aggie fans think Grant McCasland would actually consider leaving Texas Tech for College Station.
ByMatthew Conner|
Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland addresses the media in a press conference during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland addresses the media in a press conference during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Texas Tech alums and fans have enjoyed laughing at Aggies for about as long as Tech has existed as a school. In fact, making fun of A&M is an Olympic sport in West Texas.

Now, there's a new reason to laugh at A&M fans. Some actually think that their school can lure Grant McCasland away from Texas Tech to fill their open head coaching vacancy.

Tuesday, the Aggies lost their head coach, Buzz Williams, to Maryland. That was despite the fact that Williams had had decent success in College Station.

In six seasons with A&M, Williams went 120-73 and took the program to the NCAA Tournament in the last three years. However, he was never able to get past the second round, causing many Aggies to grow frustrated. Now, they (along with delusional and uninformed people in SEC circles) actually think their program could make waves by hiring one of the top coaches in the sport, such as McCasland.

The reality is that McCasland would not entertain leaving Lubbock for A&M because that would be a massive step down for his career.

First of all, Tech has been to the second weekend of the tournament four times since 2018. That includes two Elite Eights and a National Championship Game appearance.

Meanwhile, A&M hasn't been to the Sweet 16 since 2018 and has only reached that round three times since 1980. Moreover, the Aggies have never been to the Elite Eight.

Second, McCasland is under contract with Tech through the 2029-30 season thanks to a lucrative extension he signed prior to this season. Therefore, A&M would have to not only pay McCasland significantly more than the $4 million he is scheduled to make in 2025-26 but would also owe Texas Tech a massive buyout. It seems unlikely that A&M would make such a financial investment in its basketball program, even though that athletic department is well financed.

Also, it is widely expected that McCasland will receive another significant pay increase this offseason after leading Tech to the Elite Eight in his second season on the job.

Finally, Tech basketball has one of the most well-funded basketball programs in the nation. On top of that, the facilities at McCasland's disposal put to shame anything that A&M basketball can provide.

It all adds up to McCasland being more than happy in Lubbock. In fact, he recently talked about how much he loves where he and his family call home these days.

"And that's the cool thing about being a Red Raider," he said prior to the Elite Eight last week. "When you get to Lubbock and you live in Lubbock, it changes your life. It's, like, one of the best places you'll ever live. It is the best place for us."

Thus, the idea that McCasland would take a lower-tier job at a program that is not set up to win at Texas Tech's level makes everyone in Scarlet and Black laugh. That's only fitting because laughing at Aggies is one of the things Red Raiders do best.

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