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Texas Tech has reportedly hired Grant McCasland, formerly of North Texas, as its next head basketball coach. McCasland, who has a 209-89 overall record as a head coach, will be Texas Tech's third head coach in as many years, following the exits of Chris Beard and Mark Adams. ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla has called the Texas Tech job a rebuilding one, and it remains to be seen whether McCasland will be able to turn the program around.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Grant McCasland |
| Previous role | North Texas basketball coach |
| Record | 209-89 overall as a head coach |
| Texas Tech basketball coach | Third head coach in as many years |
| Texas Tech team | Red Raiders |
| Texas Tech location | Lubbock, Texas |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Tech's third basketball coach in three years
Texas Tech has had a series of changes in its basketball coaching staff in recent years, with Grant McCasland becoming the third head coach in as many years. The Red Raiders basketball program has a long history, dating back to the 1925-26 NCAA men's basketball season when the team was known as the "
In March 2023, Texas Tech announced the hiring of Grant McCasland as its new head basketball coach. McCasland, who previously coached at Midland College, Midwestern State, Baylor, and Arkansas State, has had success at every level of college basketball. He led Midland College to a Junior College National Championship and amassed an impressive record at the University of North Texas (UNT), where he coached for six seasons before taking the Texas Tech job.
McCasland's appointment comes after the exits of former coaches Chris Beard and Mark Adams. McCasland is known for his ability to motivate players, create a positive culture, and his passion for Texas Tech. He has a strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in West Texas, and his teams have shown consistent improvement year after year. With his impressive track record and strong work ethic, McCasland is expected to be a valuable asset to the Texas Tech basketball program and the Lubbock community.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball program competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I and has a rich history, including five SWC Classic titles and several NCAA Tournament appearances. With McCasland at the helm, the program aims to build on its recent successes, including appearances in four of the past five NCAA Tournaments and a strong home-court advantage with a dedicated fan base.
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Grant McCasland's record as a head coach
Grant McCasland is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at Texas Tech University, a role he assumed in 2023. Prior to this, McCasland was the head coach at North Texas from 2017 to 2023. During his time at North Texas, he guided the Mean Green to two postseason tournament championships: the 2018 College Basketball Invitational and 2023 National Invitation Tournament. He also won a C-USA title in 2020, earning himself C-USA COY honours.
McCasland's overall record as a head coach is 209-89, with his last six seasons being at North Texas. Before North Texas, McCasland spent two seasons as head coach at D-II Midwestern State, where he reached two Elite Eights and compiled a record of 56-12. He then returned to Texas as an assistant coach at Baylor from 2011 to 2016. In 2016, he was hired as the Arkansas State head coach, where he went 20-12 in his lone season with the Red Wolves.
McCasland has also been a head coach at Midland College. In his career, he has achieved a record of 9 years, 206-97, .680 W-L% across major schools, including Arkansas State (20-12), North Texas (135-65), and Texas Tech (51-20). He has won two regular-season conference championships and one tournament conference championship. McCasland has made it to the NCAA Tournament three times in his career, although he has never made it to the Final Four or won a championship.
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McCasland's defensive schemes
Texas Tech University is reportedly set to hire Grant McCasland, formerly of North Texas, as its next head basketball coach. McCasland, who will be the third head coach for Texas Tech in as many years, is expected to bring his successful defensive schemes to the Red Raiders.
McCasland is known for his defensive expertise, which has helped his teams achieve success on the court. His defensive strategies are built on a foundation of strong fundamentals and intense pressure. One of the key tenets of McCasland's defensive approach is generating turnovers and disrupting the opponent's offensive flow. He encourages his players to be aggressive and take calculated risks, applying pressure full court and in the passing lanes. This style of defence requires athletes who are quick, agile, and possess a high basketball IQ to anticipate the opponent's moves.
A favourite tactic of McCasland's defence is the full-court press. By applying pressure across the entire court, his teams force opponents into making rushed decisions and mistakes, leading to turnovers and easy scoring opportunities. The full-court press is most effective when combined with an aggressive half-court defence, such as McCasland's favoured denial defence, where the defense aims to prevent the offense from getting the ball to a specific player. This strategy disrupts the opponent's rhythm and makes it difficult for them to establish their offensive sets.
Another key aspect of McCasland's defensive schemes is the emphasis on individual responsibility. Each player is expected to be disciplined and committed to their defensive assignments. This includes active hands in passing lanes, contesting shots, and boxing out for rebounds. By focusing on individual defensive skills, McCasland ensures that his team plays cohesive defence as a unit.
McCasland's defensive strategies have proven effective during his time at North Texas. In the 2022-23 season, his team ranked 15th in the nation in steals per game and 24th in forced turnovers. This defensive prowess contributed to their overall success, as they won the 2023 National Invitation Tournament. With McCasland at the helm, Texas Tech fans can expect an exciting brand of basketball that emphasizes defence and capitalizes on opponent mistakes.
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Why McCasland might leave North Texas
Texas Tech University has reportedly hired Grant McCasland, previously of North Texas, as its next head basketball coach. McCasland, who had been the head coach at North Texas for six seasons, guided the Mean Green to two postseason tournament championships: the 2018 College Basketball Invitational and the 2023 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). He also led North Texas to the NCAA tournament in 2021, where they pulled off a first-round upset of the No. 4 seed Purdue.
McCasland's success at North Texas: McCasland had a highly successful tenure at North Texas, accumulating a 135-65 record over six seasons. He transformed the program, leading them to their first-ever NCAA tournament win and two postseason tournament championships. This level of success would naturally attract interest from more prominent basketball programs.
Opportunity to move to a higher-level program: Texas Tech, a nationally prominent program, presented McCasland with the opportunity to advance his career and coach at a higher level. This move allows him to return to a place he knows well, having previously served as the Red Raiders' director of operations in 1999. McCasland's wife, Cece, also has a connection to Texas Tech, as she played soccer there.
Personal connections to Texas Tech: McCasland's personal connections to Texas Tech may have played a role in his decision. His wife, Cece, played soccer at the university, and he previously worked there as the director of operations. Returning to Texas Tech would mean coming back to a familiar area and a community with which he and his family already have a relationship.
Coaching staff dynamics: While not explicitly stated, there may have been dynamics within the North Texas coaching staff that influenced McCasland's decision. His associate head coach, Ross Hodge, who is expected to replace him, was described by McCasland as more of a "co-coach" than just an assistant. Hodge's significant role in the team's success, particularly in leading the top-ranked defense, may have influenced McCasland's decision to move on and pursue a new challenge.
It's important to note that these are speculative reasons based on the information available. The specific motivations behind McCasland's decision to leave North Texas for Texas Tech may be a combination of professional advancement, personal connections, and the opportunity to take on a new challenge at a prominent program.
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Texas Tech's Elite Eight game against Florida
Texas Tech is reportedly set to hire Grant McCasland, previously the North Texas basketball coach, as its next head basketball coach. McCasland will be the third head coach for Texas Tech in as many years, following the exits of Chris Beard and Mark Adams.
Now, here is a summary of Texas Tech's Elite Eight game against Florida:
Texas Tech fell to Florida in the 2025 Elite Eight game, with a final score of 84-79. The Red Raiders put up a valiant effort but ultimately could not overcome the Gators' late-game surge. Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. had a stellar performance, scoring a game-high 30 points, including several crucial three-pointers in the final minutes. Clayton's performance, along with Thomas Haugh's 20 points, propelled Florida to victory.
Darrion Williams led Texas Tech with 23 points, and the team mounted a strong offensive in the first half, leading by 9 points with less than three minutes remaining. However, Florida staged a stunning comeback, finishing the game on an 18-4 run. The Gators' ability to ignite from three-point range proved challenging for Texas Tech to recover from.
The game was a heartbreaker for Texas Tech fans, with the team missing critical free throws in the closing minutes. Despite their efforts, Texas Tech was unable to advance to the Final Four, with Florida securing the coveted spot.
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Frequently asked questions
Texas Tech is reportedly set to hire North Texas' Grant McCasland as its next head basketball coach.
The previous coach was Mark Adams, who resigned. Chris Beard was the coach before Adams.
McCasland holds a 209-89 overall record as a head coach, with his last six seasons being at North Texas.
Some other potential candidates for the job included Kelvin Sampson, Scott Drew, and Randy Altman.
