Yesterday, Texas Tech baseball’s head coach Tim Tadlock announced staff changes, which moves some people around, but no one is leaving. Pitching coach Ray Hayward is moving to the special assistant while the former special assistant, Matt Gardner, is moving to the role of pitching coach:

“Ray and Matt have been a great team working with our pitchers and will continue to do so with our program,” Tadlock said. “Over the last three years, Matt has had numerous opportunities to be a pitching coach at other programs and has shown great loyalty & desire to stay in Lubbock. Our reshuffling is a direct result of wanting to keep our staff together and moving forward to make our program the best it can be.”

Gardner joined the Texas Tech baseball staff in 2013 following two seasons as pitching coach at Lubbock Christian University (2012-13). Gardner previously spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach (2009) and volunteer assistant coach (2010-11) at his alma mater, Oklahoma State. Prior to his coaching stint at Oklahoma State, Gardner was a standout pitcher at OSU and excelled as a pitcher & catcher under Tadlock at Grayson County College (2005).

“Ray will be our special assistant, which is an evolving role in college baseball and will be a great asset to our staff & team,” Tadlock said. “Ray’s experience and wisdom in all areas of baseball is something that is immeasurable and this role will allow our program great opportunities for growth. He will continue to be a fundamental piece in developing our student-athletes into championship individuals both on and off the field.”