Texas Tech, Baylor's Joey McGuire Reportedly Agree to Contract to Be New Football HC

Texas Tech didn't wait long to decide on its next head football coach. The Red Raiders have hired Baylor assistant Joey McGuire, according to Don Williams and Carlos Silva Jr. of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports also reported the news, noting McGuire's local ties in Texas helped him stand out in the interview process.

The move comes two weeks after Texas Tech fired Matt Wells following a 5-3 start to the 2021 season. Sonny Cumbie has served as the interim head coach.

McGuire will be the long-term replacement after spending the past five seasons at Baylor. He has been the associate head coach since 2019 while also leading the tight ends, defensive ends and outside linebackers at different points during his tenure in Waco, Texas.

Baylor has undergone a massive transformation, going 1-11 in 2017 before reaching the Sugar Bowl under Matt Rhule with an 11-3 record in 2019. McGuire stayed on staff after Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers, assisting Dave Aranda the past two seasons. The Bears are 7-2 and No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.

Prior to his time with Baylor, McGuire was the head coach at Cedar Hill High School in Texas, leading the squad to three state championships in 14 seasons. He was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2020.

Texas Tech will hope this experience helps him as he takes over a program that hasn't finished a season with a winning record since 2015 under Kliff Kingsbury. 

The Red Raiders began 2021 with a 4-1 record but have lost four of the last five games and have a tough remaining schedule with games against Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Athletic director Kirby Hocutt discussed what he was looking for in a new coach after firing Wells last month:

"The right fit for the next head coach, good question, you know I believe we, if possible, you want to see somebody that has strong state of Texas ties. Somebody who knows this state, knows the recruiting landscape, the recruiting landscape continues to change as all of you know with the transfer portal, but still the ability to go into Texas high schools and have a relationship there, and be able to recruit and sell West Texas and everything that Texas Tech has to offer would be important to us."

McGuire's time in Texas as a high school coach and Baylor assistant seemingly make him a perfect fit.