Texas Tech hires Grant McCasland away from North Texas

One day after leading North Texas to an NIT championship, Grant McCasland was named the new head coach at Texas Tech on Friday.

McCasland, 46, compiled a 135-65 record over six seasons with the Mean Green, who capped a 31-7 campaign with a 68-61 victory against UAB in the NIT title game Thursday night in Las Vegas.

"The commitment and vision for Texas Tech has no limits and we look forward to loving our team everyday with a greater purpose," McCasland said in a statement. "We will strive daily for excellence in every aspect of our program, do things the right way, winning championships that values relationships throughout."

McCasland began his coaching career at Texas Tech as the men's basketball director of operations from 1999-2001.

"Our search committee was immediately impressed not only by Coach McCasland and his ability to win at every level of college basketball, all while creating a positive culture built upon toughness, but also his passion for Texas Tech and his vision for our basketball program," athletic director Kirby Hocutt said.

He was the head coach at Midland College (2004-09), Midwestern State (2009-11) and Arkansas State (2016-17) before taking over at North Texas, where he led the program to the 2021 NCAA Tournament and was named the 2020-21 Conference USA Coach of the Year and also guided the Mean Green to the 2018 CBI title.

He was also an assistant at his alma mater Baylor from 2011-16.

McCasland replaces Mark Adams, who resigned on March 8 after being suspended by the university for making an "inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive" comment to a Red Raiders player.

Adams, 66, was 43-25 in two seasons at his alma mater.

Texas Tech is coming off a 16-16 season that included a 5-13 record in the Big 12. The Red Raiders have been to the NCAA Tournament five times since 2016 and reached the national championship game in 2019, losing to Virginia.