A change of scenery: Texas Tech offensive coordinator Cumbie accepts Louisiana Tech head coaching gig
The Texas Tech football team will see another change with its coaching staff.
Interim coach, and offensive coordinator, Sonny Cumbie is expected to be named the head coach at Louisiana Tech, per multiple online reports Tuesday — with FootballScoop being the first to mention the news.
A Texas Tech athletics official confirmed Tuesday afternoon with the Avalanche-Journal that Cumbie is leaving the coaching staff and the Louisiana Tech official Twitter account posted that the introductory press conference is slated for noon Wednesday in the Davison Athletics Complex.
Cumbie was brought in last year under Matt Wells, replacing to previous offensive coordinator David Yost after two seasons. Wells was let go after eight games on Oct. 25 and new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire retained him as part of his first staff.
The Red Raiders went 1-3 under his watch with losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State sandwiched around a 41-38 upset of Iowa State before falling to Baylor in the final game of the regular season.
Texas Tech ended with a 6-6 overall record and earned bowl eligibility for the first time in four seasons.
"I’m thankful for the opportunity coach McGuire has provided me and my family to remain with this program," Cumbie had said after his announcement to be retained by McGuire. "It’s no secret how much I love this place and this program, and I am looking forward to working closely with coach McGuire on making this program successful year-in and year-out. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank our players and coaches as well as they have poured their hearts into this program the past few weeks."
Texas Tech taped a video of McGuire making the announcement to keep Cumbie and released it Nov. 24 on social media.
"He is one of the greatest minds in college football right now and is everything that we're about," McGuire said in the video of Cumbie, who was in the first of a three-year contract. "He's poured into players. They love him. He will be the first one to tell you that's why he's done what he's done.
"Sonny Cumbie is going to be our offensive coordinator. I am so fired up and I can't wait to see what he's going to do with this team on Saturday. It's a great day to be a Red Raider. It's a great day to wear the red and black."
Read more: Texas Tech's Joey McGuire makes headway on staff
Things have changed as Cumbie is headed to Ruston and set to become the 34th head coach in Bulldogs program history.
With the reported move, it marks the first coaching stint for the Snyder native outside the state of Texas.
During his collegiate career, Cumbie joined the Texas Tech program as a walk-on and bided his time until his fifth season before earning the starting quarterback job back in 2004. A notable highlight includes ending his career by leading the Red Raiders to a Holiday Bowl victory over Aaron Rodgers and California.
In spring 2009, Cumbie's coaching career started with the San Angelo Stampede, in which he was the starting quarterback, head coach and director of player personnel.
More college football: 5 takeaways from Texas Tech's 27-24 loss to Baylor
He returned to Lubbock as a graduate assistant for a stint from 2010-2012 following his stop in San Angelo. He went up the coaching ladder, becoming an assistant coach (inside receivers, outside receivers) at Texas Tech before moving onto TCU to become the co-offensive coordinator and outside receivers coach in 2013. He switched over to quarterbacks starting in 2014 through 2020 before he trekked to Lubbock.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech OC Cumbie offered Louisiana Tech head coaching gig
