Texas Tech Basketball: 10 candidates to replace Mark Adams as head coach

Rodney Terry

This one would be some weird reversal of fortune, but hiring Terry would actually make a lot of sense on a number of levels. He’s been an important figure in basketball in the state of Texas and would bring significant head coaching experience to Lubbock, especially after what he’s had to deal with this year. He’s a former high school coach in the state and even assisted at Baylor, though several years before Scott Drew got there.

Terry spent nearly a decade as an assistant at Texas before head coaching stints at Fresno State and UTEP, leading the Bulldogs to the Big Dance. After three years in El Paso, he returned to Texas as an assistant on Chris Beard’s staff and would succeed him when Beard was fired just a few months ago. Terry has honestly done a fantastic job of restoring order in Austin, leading the Longhorns to a 16-7 record as interim head coach and a 2nd place finish in a very strong Big 12.

If Texas doesn’t make him the next permanent head coach, Texas Tech would be smart to try to woo him. He hasn’t had a power conference head coaching job before this season but he’s shown his ability with these Longhorns during a difficult time. Terry was a good leader before bolting for Texas and has inherent familiarity with recruiting in the state. We’ll have to see what happens with him and the Longhorns in the coming weeks but he should be one of the first calls for the Red Raiders’ brass.