Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury eager to coach in West Texas

by GEORGE RIBA

Bio | Email

WFAA Sports

Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Updated Saturday, Feb 9 at 12:00 AM

DALLAS -- Texas Tech's Red Raider Club of Dallas had a chance to meet Kliff Kingsbury this week.

Kingsbury is a former Red Raiders quarterback and the new head football coach, hired by athletic director Kirby Hocutt.

"The reception has been incredible," Hocutt said. "The Red Raider family has come back together, and everyone is back on the same page and moving forward full steam."

"A big part of who I am was created out there in West Texas, in Lubbock at Texas Tech, so I appreciate that fact," Kingsbury said. "I've always been a Red Raider and always had that in my heart."

Kingsbury served as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M last year, coaching Heisman-trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel.

He was named the offensive coordinator of the year after that, and was quickly scooped up by Texas Tech to replace Tommy Tuberville.

"We're going to see what we have personnel-wise first," Kingsbury said. "That's what we did at A&M -- we change it up, having a running quarterback, obviously, and did some things in that area, so we'll see what we have. But the base principles will be the same that we had at Houston and Texas A&M, and we'll go from there."

Eleven years ago, Kingsbury left Texas Tech having passed for more than 12,000 yards.

He'll have five former Red Raiders on his staff, including another former Texas Tech quarterback, Sonny Cumbie, who will serve as the co-offensive coordinator.

Combined, Cumbie and Kingsbury threw for more than 17,000 yards.

"I think the coaches, we're all excited," Cumbie said. "It makes for a fun offense to coach and a fun offense to teach our players. Our kids have that same excitement, because they know what's about to happen with this offense and with the coaches and players that we have."

Ever since the days of Mike Leach, Texas Tech had a reputation for a wide-open passing attack. In recent years, it hasn't been the same.

But with Kingsbury back on board, change is in the air.

E-mail griba@wfaa.com

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/headlines/Kliff-Kingsbury-eager-to-coach-in-West-Texas-190434771.html

broncos lehigh walking dead season finale matt flynn denver news frozen planet creighton