Texas Tech announced on November 8, the hire of Joey McGuire to become the Red Raiders’ 17th head football coach in the program’s history. McGuire was in his fifth season on the Baylor Bears’ coaching staff and in his third year as the team’s associate head coach.
Before joining the Baylor football program, McGuire compiled a legendary career at Cedar Hill High School in South Dallas.
Before he took over in 2003, the Cedar Hill Longhorns had never won a playoff game. Under McGuire’s leadership, however, the program did a complete 180 becoming one of the most dominant teams in the state of Texas.
Over his 14 seasons at the helm of Cedar Hill, he amassed an impressive 141-42 record and made the playoffs in 12 straight seasons. He won three state championships, first in 2006 and then back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.
During McGuire’s tenure, Cedar Hill won nine bi-district titles and seven district titles but lost in the state title game in 2012.
His spectacular record at Cedar Hill led to McGuire becoming a 2020 inductee into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.
Since joining in 2017, McGuire helped build Baylor into a Big 12 title contender. The Bears made the Big 12 Championship game and the Sugar Bowl in 2019 with McGuire on the coaching staff. Baylor is off to a 7-2 start this season.
McGuire will face an uphill climb in Lubbock as he replaces Matt Wells, who was fired amid his third season in charge of the program.
The Tech job is difficult based on the returns of their three previous coaches, who have combined for only 68 wins over 12 seasons. Along with Wells, the previous coaches include current U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and current Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
McGuire will immediately join the Texas Tech athletics department and take over head coaching duties following the 2021 football season. Sonny Cumbie will remain Tech’s interim head coach for the final three regular-season games and any bowl game.
“We are excited for this new chapter in Texas Tech Football under the direction of Coach McGuire,” Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt said. “Our search committee was impressed from the outset not only with his significant ties throughout the state of Texas but his enthusiasm and desire to serve as the head coach at Texas Tech. We are thrilled to be able to welcome Coach McGuire and his wife Debbie to our Red Raider family.”
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal first reported the hiring.