Joey McGuire Isn’t Sugarcoating What’s at Stake This Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Texas Tech football is no stranger to high expectations. From the days of Donny Anderson and Michael Crabtree to the high-flying Air Raid offenses of the early 2000s, the Red Raiders have long been a program with deep roots and passionate support. But now, under head coach Joey McGuire, the urgency to deliver has reached new heights, and he isn’t dodging that pressure.
McGuire, entering his third season at the helm, has compiled a 15–11 record thus far. While his tenure has included notable wins and cultural momentum, Texas Tech fans are hungry for more, and so is McGuire.
In a recent candid moment from “The Triple Option” podcast, McGuire laid bare the reality of coaching at this level:
“I replaced a Hall of Fame high school coach (Matt Wells),” said McGuire. “And in the ‘Dallas Morning News,’ which is the largest paper in the state of Texas, the superintendent, Dr. Gibson, they asked him, ‘Why did you let this coach go?’ And he said he didn’t win enough games. I knew right then that if I wanted to keep my job, I had to win games. All right? So, any coach that doesn’t understand that, they’re living in La La Land.”
McGuire’s words reflect a hard-nosed understanding of the business. And this season, the stakes are even higher.
Backed by one of the most aggressive recruiting pushes in school history that netted 2024’s best transfer class and a newly unveiled $250 million football training facility, Texas Tech is clearly aiming for elite status. The university’s investment speaks volumes, and McGuire knows it.
“So, I’m not saying I need to win the Big 12 to keep my job. I need to win the Big 12. We need to win the Big 12 because we have a $250 million football facility that is as good as anywhere in the country.”
Texas Tech isn’t just building for the future — they’re demanding results now. With the Big 12 in transition and a wide-open path to the top, McGuire understands what’s required.
The 53-year-old coach isn’t making excuses or ducking expectations. McGuire is embracing them head-on. In a state that breathes football and at a school with serious ambition, winning isn’t just the goal, it’s the standard. McGuire is betting on himself to deliver.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.