Texas Tech named Joey McGuire as its next head coach, a source confirmed to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The Red Raiders fired Matt Wells in October after two-plus seasons in charge in Lubbock. Wells went 13-17 overall and 7-16 in the Big 12 during his time at Texas Tech. Offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie was named the interim coach as Texas Tech and athletic director Kirby Hocutt went hunting on a new coach. 

The first name that materialized was UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor. The former Gilmer High School head man took over in 2020 and is turning the Roadrunners into a G5 power. UTSA is 9-0 in 2021 and that success allowed the school to extend Traylor through 2031 with a contract worth $28 million dollars to keep programs such as Texas Tech at bay. 

McGuire is in the same mold as Traylor. In fact, McGuire turned down the UTSA job prior to Traylor taking over. McGuire also made his name in the high school coaching ranks, leading Cedar Hill in South Dallas to three state championships during his tenure. Now in his fifth season at Baylor, McGuire is the associate head coach and outside linebacker coach for the Bears.

McGuire was a 2020 inductee into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor. He was at Cedar Hill for 13 years before leaving for the college ranks. His hiring by Texas Tech should immediately improve recruiting inside the state of Texas thanks to McGuire’s deep roots and respect inside the Texas high school football community. Few people command as much respect from fellow coaches than McGuire, who is known as a straight-shooter who cares deeply for players. 

"Joey is the ultimate people person," said D.J. Mann, head coach of Lubbock Coronado and a former assistant at Cedar Hill. "He makes people feel like they've known each other forever. He will recruit on a level never seen in Lubbock and he will take care of the kids." 

Texas Tech announced that McGuire will immediately begin working at Texas Tech while Cumbie finishes the season as the interim head coach. The early signing period in December is one of the reasons so many programs are making coaching changes earlier in the season rather than waiting for December or January. McGuire can immediately begin recruiting for Texas Tech.