So an interesting question was posed to me recently, and I am going to answer in this article, as well as a few other points that stem from it.
The question is as follows:
How UT & [Texas] A&M got new head football coaches these past couple years and [Texas Tech] haven’t...And they’re previous coaches even produced better seasons than [Texas Tech].
and given the success of Texas Tech outside of football, this is an interesting conundrum.
Texas Tech has had a ton of success on the athletics side of things over the past few years.
That's thanks in large part to Kirby Hocutt hiring coaches with Texas Tech roots like Tim Tadlock (alumni) and Chris Beard (former assistant coach), and them working out as head coaches. Kliff was the start of this trend, especially the Tadlock part of it, as an alumnus.
Now he has a massive contract, but he no longer has the support of the fans. His shine as an alumn has started to wear off.
He rode a fantastic first season to a contract extension and even more fan support because he found success, but that was five years ago. Now it's time for Hocutt to reevaluate one of his first big hires.
The thing Hocutt, and Texas Tech, failed to realize when they hired Kliff was that he was just a good offensive coordinator who had a lot of luck.
Don't believe. Here's a list of the quarterbacks Kliff has had during his coaching career, and the records those teams had:
2008 Houston Cougars: Case Keenum, 8-5 (6-2 C-USA)
2009 Houston Cougars: Case Keenum, 10-4 (6-3 C-USA)
2010 Houston Cougars: Case Keenum, 2-1 (1-0 C-USA) &
David Piland, 3-6 (3-4 C-USA)
2011 Houston Cougars: Case Keenum, 13-1 (8-0 C-USA)
2012 Texas A&M: Johnny Manziel, 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
2013 Texas Tech: Baker Mayfield, 3-0 (1-0 Big XII)
Davis Webb, 5-5 (3-5 Big XII)
2014 Texas Tech: Davis Webb, 3-5 (1-4 Big XII)
Patrick Mahomes, 1-3 (1-3 Big XII)
2015 Texas Tech: Patrick Mahomes, 7-6 (4-5 Big XII)
2016 Texas Tech: Patrick Mahomes, 5-7 (3-6 Big XII)
2017 Texas Tech: Nic Shimonek 6-7 (3-6 Big XII)*
*Technically didn't start the UT game, but Texas Tech won because of him
So he has had some of the best quarterbacks in the history of college football, three first round picks, two Heisman winners, and six potential NFL quarterbacks next season.
I'm not saying the quarterbacks made Kliff, but he wasn't exactly hurt by a lack of talent at the position.
The Big XII is a tough conference, don't get me wrong, but the info above also shows that he doesn't have a winning season in the conference as a head coach. Seeing as how every team is basically guaranteed a win against Kansas, the fact that he can't go .500 is a bit startling.
Even in 2013, the year that basically got Kliff his extention, he went 4-5 in conference. He's just not a good head coach, mostly due to inexperience. Very few coaches due well in their first head coaching position when they start in such a high position. Most coaches start their head coaching career at a smaller school, but Kliff went from a quarterback coach in Houston to the head coach of Texas Tech in 6 years.
What I am trying to say here is that I don't buy the "Kliff is a good head coach" argument. Honestly, it is a legitimate stretch.
So Kliff has problems as a head coach, but still has his job while others have lost their's, but why?
It goes back to the alumni situation.
Kliff was hired in the first place due in large part to his alumni status. He was a "Lubbock Legend" who came home to coach his Alma Matter. He then found early success, which made the boosters go all-in on Kliff as the future.
Guys like Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M, Mack Brown at UT, and Charlie Strong at UT had no connection to their schools. When performance was down, they got rid of him, which is what good programs do.
Maybe Kingsbury will finally break through and have a winning record in the conference, and maybe Kansas won't have to wait til basketball season.
Clearly we have talented players, and we have seen with the players who are in the NFL, but it's not generating on-field results.
The patience has worn thin in Lubbock, and that alumni credibility has worn-off. Kliff still has a job because of his alumni appeal and his big contract he got after a few decent years, but those can't really save him anymore. Time is running out for him, just like with all coaches who can't get the job done, and while being an alumni bought him a little more time, even that's not enough anymore.
Clock's running Kliff. I want you to succeed because I want to see this team do well for my senior year in Lubbock, but you haven't given fans much reason to hope.
If you want to know whether or not you are doing a good job, if you hear fans booing or chanting "We Want Leach," then you are going the wrong direction. Red Raider Nation does a pretty good job letting people know how we feel.