Texas Tech hires North Texas' Grant McCasland as head basketball coach

Texas Tech didn’t have to look outside of the Lone Star State to find its next head basketball coach. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, the Red Raiders have hired North Texas coach Grant McCasland.

The deal is reportedly for six years and worth $18 million, per Norlander.

McCasland led the Mean Green to the NIT Championship game this past season, where they faced UAB and won on Thursday. He has spent the past six seasons with North Texas, leading it to a 134-65 record in that span to leave as the winningest coach in program history. His resume includes a CBI championship, one NCAA Tournament appearance, two Conference USA regular season titles and one Conference USA Tournament championship.

McCasland set a program-record for wins in each of the past two seasons with the Mean Green. North Texas won its first NCAA Tournament game in program history under his watch last season, taking out No. 4 seed Purdue. The Mean Green held opponents to 55.7 points per game that season to rank as the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation.

Grant McCasland will take over for Mark Adams, who resigned earlier this month. Texas Tech finished 16-16 this past season and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. The Red Raiders advanced to the Final Four just five seasons ago in 2019 under the direction of coach Chris Beard.

Additionally, North Texas won’t have to look far to find its replacement. Associate head coach Ross Hodge is expected to be promoted to the team’s next head coach.

More on Grant McCasland’s coaching career

A Baylor alumnus, McCasland was a walk-on point guard for the Bears from 1995-99. He later earned his master’s degree at Texas Tech in 2001, so his hiring marks a return to Lubbock. His wife, Cece, is a former Red Raiders soccer player whom he met while attending school.

McCasland joined Northeastern Junior College in Colorado as an assistant coach in Colorado following his graduation. He stayed until 2003 before becoming the head coach at Midland College at just 27 years old. He later led the program to a National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in 2007.

After that, he took over at Division II Midwestern State in 2009. He spent two seasons at the school, leading it to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.

McCasland went on to return to Baylor as an assistant coach under Scott Drew in 2011-12. He stayed five seasons and was a part of two Sweet Sixteen appearances. Prior to taking over at North Texas, McCasland coached one season at Arkansas State in 2016-17, directing the Red Wolves to a 20-12 finish.