LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland has been named to the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List, the organization announced Thursday.
McCasland has guided the Red Raiders from being unranked at the start of the season to a Top 10 national ranking, while leading the team to a 20-6 overall record and an 11-4 mark in Big 12 play. Now in his second season at Texas Tech, McCasland has compiled a 43-17 overall record with the program, including a 22-11 Big 12 record and an impressive 28-4 mark at home.
McCasland has helped reinvigorate Texas Tech basketball, with the program boasting the highest average attendance in the state of Texas. The Red Raiders have already announced four sellouts this season, including the upcoming matchups against West Virginia (Saturday, noon) and No. 5 Houston (Monday, 8 p.m.) at United Supermarkets Arena.
McCasland is only the second coach in Texas Tech history to record back-to-back 20-win seasons in his first two years, joining Hall of Famer Bob Knight (2001-02, 2002-03). Last season, he led the Red Raiders to a 23-11 record and their 20th NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 15-man watch list includes notable names such as:
- Greg Gard (Wisconsin)
- Dennis Gates (Missouri)
- Todd Golden (Florida)
- Penny Hardaway (Memphis)
- Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
- Pat Kelsey (Louisville)
- Dusty May (Michigan)
- Ben McCollum (Drake)
- Matt Painter (Purdue)
- Bruce Pearl (Auburn)
- Rick Pitino (St. John’s)
- Richard Pitino (New Mexico)
- Kelvin Sampson (Houston)
- Jon Scheyer (Duke)
McCasland and Sampson are the only two Big 12 coaches featured on the prestigious list.
The Red Raiders will look to continue their strong season as they host West Virginia on Saturday before a pivotal matchup against No. 5 Houston on Monday. Texas Tech enters the weekend 13-2 at home and remains in the hunt for a top Big 12 finish.
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