Joey McGuire hires away member of LSU football staff

As the power over the Texas Tech football program shifts, new head coach Jeremy McGuire has made an interesting new hire. McGuire has added on Cody Bellaire as the team’s new director of scouting. Bellaire leaves LSU where he was the Tiger’s assistant director of player personnel to join the Red Raiders.

This is McGuire’s first reported hire after being named the new Texas Tech football head coach nearly two weeks ago. Bellaire is a graduate of LSU and has held multiple office positions for a number of football programs. According to Sam Khan of The Athletic, he has worked in player personnel department at Baylor and Texas A&M. However, this will be his first time serving as the director of scouting in his career.

McGuire is a former successful longtime Texas high school football coach. Before being appointed the head coaching position for the Red Raiders, he was in Waco with the Baylor Bears. At Baylor, he coached tight ends, defensive ends, and inside linebackers. McGuire was in his fifth season with the Bears and his third as Baylor’s associate head coach.

McGuire served as the head coach at Cedar Hill High School in Texas, a program that hadn’t won a playoff game prior to his tenure. He took Cedar Hill to 12 straight playoff appearances, four state-championship games and won nine bi-district championships while amassing a 141-42 record.

He replaced Matt Wells, who Texas Tech fired midway through the season in late October. Wells was in the midst of his third season with the Red Raiders and had a 5- 3 record at the time of his termination.

Joey McGuire’s contract details

McGuire’s contract details were shared recently, along with information about his budget for hiring assistant coaches and support staff.

Joey McGuire signed a contract for six years worth $20.2 million, with a year-one salary of $3 million. He will also be eligible for up to $1 million per year in performance bonuses. Included in the new deal is $250,000 to pay his contract buyout from Baylor and another $250,000 as a retention bonus in May of 2025.

Also revealed is that he will have a $4.8 million assistant coach pool. The price is notable when compared to former head coach Matt Wells’ initial contract. Wells’ assistant coach pool was $3.3 million when he took the position. McGuire will also have a pool of $1.85 million for strength and support staff.