The introductory press conference for new head coach Grant McCasland begins around the 3:30 mark with Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt introducing the the basketball team, then some words from President Lawrence Schovanec.
Hocutt thanks the committee that helped choose McCasland, from Dusty Womble, to Jonathan Botros, Joey McGuire, to Norense Odiase (at the 11:40 mark). Odiase wasn’t supposed to speak, but just tuning in to watch him (I’ll make it easy, it is embedded below).
“I’m trying to find somebody that’s US.. that understands who we are. The culture, the vision, the family, and the community.
Everything he is – is everything we need in a coach.”
🗣 @kingno_ on Coach @CoachGrantMac pic.twitter.com/1Liryb4qlx
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) April 3, 2023
In a sweet moment, the McCasland family comes up here and Grant’s wife, Cece, played soccer at Texas Tech and she received a soccer jersey with her old number on it. McCasland starts around the 23:00 minute mark, introduces and thanks his family and talks about his connection to Texas Tech and West Texas.
The media scrum portion of the press conference is maybe better for those of you who want to know what McCasland is going to do in terms of process, players, development, and coaches.
You can find some quotes from that press conferece here and McCasland talks about assembling a roster and his philosophy in recruiting.
McCasland is tasked with assembling a roster. His philosophy of recruiting was a topic and drew this response:
“I think there’s three components that have to be a big part of recruiting,” McCasland said. “Obviously, you’re going to look at measurables and talent. Then there’s a love for the game that you can’t teach and that’s probably where we start because if you love basketball, then you’re willing to do a lot of things to get better. That takes conversations more than it takes what you can see. I think you just have to do background work to do that. I think it’s really important and if you can combine a love for it and a feel for it, then I think the ceilings limitless. I really do. I think finding talent is going to be what’s beautiful about being at Texas Tech because you can recruit the best talent in the world.”
And what it means to be in West Texas.
McCasland is the 19th head coach in Texas Tech program history and is taking his fifth head coaching position. He led the programs at Midland College, Midwestern State, Arkansas State and North Texas before taking over the Red Raider program last week. He was asked to reflect on that journey that has led him here:
“I think when you look back at the journey, it’s pretty remarkable. A lot of things pointed to Texas Tech that is beautiful that you can’t really explain. I would say unexpected is an understatement, the love that we have for West Texas. I mean this sincerely, my wife and I when it became an opportunity, everyone has an opinion on Lubbock. I love Lubbock, this is where my wife and I met, and this is where we want to be with all our hearts. So, to say that we knew this would be a wild journey, and we had peace about it immediately when we started talking to the search committee. I think that was the first part that there’s genuine love. When I talked to the search committee, I felt that we could continue to build what has already been established, and it’s remarkable. The United Supermarkets Arena on game day, I do believe it’s the best home court in college basketball and to win championships, you have to win your home games. We just felt like that formula fit our family, felt like it felt our philosophy, and it felt like it fit in the big picture.”