Report: Texas Tech, Joey McGuire makes decision on interim coach Sonny Cumbie

Newly hired Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is beginning to fill his staff for next season. One of the questions he would have to answer is what to do with some of the coaches leftover from the previous regime. And on Wednesday, McGuire made a decision on the Red Raiders’ current interim head coach and offensive coordinator, Sonnie Cumbie. According to McGuire himself, he will retain the services of Cumbie next season as the Texas Tech offensive coordinator.

When asked about his decision to keep the Red Raiders interim head coach, McGuire got straight to the point.

“Sonny Cumbie is one of the top offensive minds in the country and we are fortunate to have him remain on our staff here at Texas Tech,” said McGuire.

The new Texas Tech headman knows firsthand the value of keeping A quality coordinator around during a head coach transition. When Dave Aranda took over at Baylor for Matt Rhule, McGuire stayed on to help Aranda through the transition.

McGuire’s first hire

McGuire’s first reported hire came earlier in the week adding 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. He 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 the 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.