Texas Tech Dominates Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards
Texas Tech University is experiencing a remarkable stretch of coaching excellence in the 2024-25 athletic year, with an impressive three head coaches earning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. This achievement underscores the dedication, leadership, and success across various Red Raider programs, contributing to a growing tally of four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards and counting for the university this academic year.
The most recent addition to this distinguished list is Adam Herendeen, who was named the Big 12 Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. In his third season at the helm, Herendeen guided the Lady Raiders to an outstanding 22-2 record, securing both the Big 12 regular season title and the Big 12 Tournament championship – the program’s first regular season title since 2017 and their first tournament title since 2017 as well. This marked Herendeen’s first Big 12 Coach of the Year award and the fourth Coach of the Year honor in his career. Under his guidance, the Lady Raiders achieved a program-record 12 conference wins and earned their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, hosting the first and second rounds for the first time in seven years.
In men’s basketball, head coach Grant McCasland also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors. In his second season leading the Red Raiders, McCasland guided the team to a successful campaign, earning the respect of his peers within the conference. This recognition highlights his impact on the program and the team’s performance throughout the challenging Big 12 season.
Adding to this impressive haul is Kenny Gajewski, the head coach of the Texas Tech softball program. While the specific details of his Coach of the Year award within the 2024-25 season were part of the initial information, his contribution signifies the breadth of coaching excellence across Texas Tech athletics.
This collection of Coach of the Year awards reflects the hard work and vision of these leaders, as well as the dedication and talent of their student-athletes. To have three different head coaches recognized by the Big 12 in a single academic year is a testament to the strong leadership and competitive spirit fostered within the Texas Tech athletic department. With a total of four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards already secured and the potential for more as other sports conclude their seasons, 2024-25 is shaping up to be a banner year for Texas Tech coaching achievements. This success not only brings recognition to the individual programs and coaches but also elevates the overall profile of Texas Tech athletics within the highly competitive Big 12 Conference.
