After six seasons at Texas Tech, head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired by Texas Tech. Now, Texas Tech reportedly is targeting West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen.
It has not been confirmed whether or not Holgorsen has mutual interest in the job. It has also been reported that Colorado and Louisville have their eye on the Mountaineer head coach.
If Holgorsen were to leave for another job he would be on the hook for $2.5 million if he left before December 31, 2018 and $1 million if he left after.
The Red Raiders lost to Baylor on Saturday by a final score of 35-24. This sealed their third straight losing season. On Sunday the school made the firing official. Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt said Kingsbury “worked very hard and represented us in a first-class manner.”
During his six seasons at Texas Tech, Kingsbury went 35-40 overall and 19-35 in conference play. Dana Holgorsen was an assistant at Tech from 2000-2007, with three seasons as co-offensive coordinator. His Mountaineers have a five-game win streak over the Red Raiders.
A report from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal states that Hocutt has Dana Holgorsen on his short list, along with Utah State coach Matt Wells and Oregon defensive coordinator and former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt.
Kingsbury was paid $3.7 million for the 2018 season while Holgorsen earned $3.6 million. The Mountaineer coach is signed through the 2021 season after signing an extension in December 2016.
Another report claims Washington State head man and former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach is interested in a return to Lubbock.
When the Mountaineers ended the season on a two-game losing streak, they finished in fourth place in the conference. The likely bowl destinations include the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, the Texas Bowl in Houston or the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
After eight season Holgorsen’s record is 61-40 and 33-30 in the Big 12. His record against ranked teams stands at 10-20 after the loss to No. 6 Oklahoma on Friday night by a score of 59-56.