HC Grant McCasland brings new identity to Texas Tech

Following his win with the University of North Texas in the National Invitation Tournament, head coach Grant McCasland was hired by Texas Tech to become the new head coach for its men's basketball program.

As was first reported by Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, McCasland agreed to a six-year deal with the Red Raiders worth $18M, a step toward stability for a program that has seen turnover in the coaching position the last few seasons. 

McCasland will take the place of interim head coach Corey Williams, who coached the Red Raiders after the suspension and resignation of Mark Adams following reports of insensitive comments directed toward his athletes.

Despite opening the season ranked No. 25 by the Associated Press, Texas Tech finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 16-16, the program's first season without a winning record since the 2014-15 season. The team also finished 5-13 in Big 12 competition, losing in the first round of the conference tournament.

McCasland brings an identity with him to Texas Tech, as UNT was categorized as a slow, defensive-oriented team. 

In 2022, the Mean Green finished 363rd — dead last — in possessions per game and 337th in points scored per game. In 2021, they finished 357th — second to last — in possessions per game and 317th in points scored per game. However, in both seasons UNT finished first in the nation in points allowed per game.

This style of play brought North Texas success in Conference USA. In six seasons in Denton, Texas, McCasland led the Mean Green to two conference regular season titles and one conference tournament title. 

In the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, McCasland helped coach UNT to a first-round upset of Purdue.