WELLS TO TEXAS TECH: Five questions about the hire | Pros and cons
Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt met with the media on Thursday night shortly after informing the Red Raider football team that Matt Wells had been hired to coach them in 2019. Here are the biggest takeaways from Hocutt's media availability.
... Matt Wells, offensive coordinator David Yost and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson will meet with the Texas Tech football team for the first time tomorrow.
... Hocutt said the first thing Wells told him was that Texas Tech was "not a rebuild, Texas Tech is in a reload position."
... "I had the same feeling after I met with coach Wells as I did after I met with coach (Tim) Tadlock and coach (Chris) Beard. When I walked away from that meeting, I had that same type of feeling."
... Hocutt said Wells has agreed to general terms on a six-year contract.
... Hocutt said Texas Tech has made a commitment to increase its assistant coaches salary pool.
... Hocutt said that he "talked to a lot of people" during this process and met face-to-face with three candidates, including Wells.
... Hocutt said that he had "numerous" phone conversations with Wells, starting on Sunday, but met with him for the first time during this process on Monday in Salt Lake City. Wells "set the bar really high" in his interview.
... Hocutt said that Wells will be "a great fit" at Texas Tech and in West Texas.
... Wells and Hocutt played against each other during the 1992 season. Hocutt was playing for Kansas State, while Wells was playing for Utah State. The Aggies won that game 28-16.
... Hocutt said that Wells understands the importance of connecting with Texas high school football coaches and is putting together a staff with "tremendous Texas ties." Wells told Hocutt that he's received multiple texts from Texas high school coaches congratulating him about the hire.
... Hocutt said that he met with Alan Bowman earlier this week. "I couldn't be more impressed with that young man and his desire to be a Red Raider and his desire to be one of the greats that have played that position here is strong." Hocutt said Bowman "is going to be a leader at Texas Tech for a long time."
... Wells, Yost, Patterson and any other assistants in place at the time will be on the road next week recruiting for Texas Tech.
