Speaking to the media today, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt voiced his support for head coach Kliff Kingsbury, adding that he will return in 2017.
Hocutt did note during the presser that he expects Tech to field a better defense next season, and fully anticipates that defensive coordinator David Gibbs will be back for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech ranked 7th nationally in scoring offense at nearly 44 points per game, but their defense finished dead last at 128th overall, also allowing 44 points per game. Some of those losses included giving up 66 to Iowa State, 68 to Arizona State, 48 to West Virginia, 66 to Oklahoma, and 45 each to Texas and Oklahoma State.
Hocutt also added this, which is great to hear from your athletic director.
Kingsbury led Texas Tech to a 5-7 finish this fall, highlighted by wins over TCU, Baylor, and a one-point loss to Oklahoma State. However, the Red Raiders did get blown out 66-10 by Iowa State, prompting rumors to start that required Hocutt to address at the season's end.
In four seasons in Lubbock, Kingsbury is 24-26 overall, with a 13-23 mark in Big 12 play. His best season came in his first season, with an 8-5 finish. In 2014 they finished 4-8, followed by a 7-6 finish and trip to the Texas bowl before this year's 5-7 mark.
Kingsbury is the only two-time winner of the FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the year.
There have been 9 head coaching openings in 2016-17 so far, with LSU (Ed Orgeron), Texas (Tom Herman), Fresno State (Jeff Tedford) and FIU (Butch Davis) the only ones to fill their openings so far. Five openings remain.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest developments.