Texas Tech Makes Tommy Tuberville New Head Coach

Sports News - January 10th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Just over a week after firing it's winningest coach in school history, Texas Tech has a new sheriff in town.

ESPN reported on Saturday that school officials have hired Tommy Tuberville to become the Red Raiders' head coach, agreeing to a five-year deal that is worth about $10 million overall.

"It's great to be back in the game again," Tuberville said.

Tuberville apparently accepted the offer immediately after it was made, and flew to Lubbock last Saturday night for a Sunday news conference at 3 p.m.

"After 25 years of coaching you need to recharge your batteries," he said. "Last year being out was great for me. I'm fired up, looking forward to it."

Tuberville interviewed for several vacant jobs this week, including South Florida's, and would have been faced with a daunting task of following a coach that essentially put his school on the map either way. He inherits a College Football program with fans supremely loyal to their former coach, even carrying signs and posters to the Raiders' bowl game against Michigan State, with scribbled pleas to school officials to bring him back.

Mike Leach was dispatched after 10 years with the school for alleged mistreatment of an injured player, sparking a standoff between he and school officials. Redshirt wideout Adam James, son of ESPN analyst Craig James, complained to the school that he was sequestered to a small electrical closet while the rest of the team practiced after he suffered a concussion in mid-December. He also alleged that a guard was standing outside the door, ordered to not let him leave.

But Leach, as well as several other team members, argued that he was an arrogant, self-entitled player who over exaggerated his treatment. Trainers showed reporters that the "electrical closet" was really a small media room with plenty of space to be comfortable. They also said no guard was instructed to stand at the door.

Either way, Leach was fired and an ongoing legal battle has ensued.

Tuberville was fired by Auburn after an '08 campaign that ended in a 5-7 season. He once won coach of the year honors in 2004 after guiding the Tigers to a 13-0 season capped by a win in the Sugar Bowl. He averaged over eight wins a season for 10 years, but fell out of the school's graces after missing a bowl in '08, and took a season off.

He said he would not mess with the Raiders' prolific spread offense that has continuously ranked among the nation's best. But he also said he would focus on restructuring the defense that has continuously ranked among the nation's worst.

"You know, I'm a salesman, and you have to have a great product to sell," he said. "And obviously Texas Tech is a great place, got a great tradition."