For some reason, I thought Spike would live forever.

Former Texas Tech head coach William Taylor “Spike” Dykes passed away at the age of 79 years old from an apparent heart attack.

Dykes was Texas Tech’s head coach from 1986 through 1999 and had a coaching record at Texas Tech of 82-67-1 after thirteen years as head coach for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech was the only collegiate program that Dykes coached and he helped turn a program that was spurned by David McWilliams after McWilliams only coached at Texas Tech for one year. Dykes was the defensive coordinator at the time, ended up coaching Texas Tech in the bowl game and stayed on as the head coach for the next 13 years.

Dykes was not only know for his storied Texas Tech career, but Dykes raised money for Alzheimer’s research after his wife, Sharon, passed away at the age of 70 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dykes held a yearly golf tournament to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. You can actually play and be a part of the Spike Dykes Charity Golf Tournament at Horseshoe Bay July 14th and 15th.

Rest in peace.

Condolences to the Dykes family.

I hope this is etched somewhere at Texas Tech very soon.

If you have to talk a kid into coming here, you’ll have to talk that kid into playing hard.
-Spike Dykes