Texas Tech University Athletics
McCasland formally introduced as Tech head coach
April 03, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Grant McCasland had a direct message to Texas Tech fans who had gathered on Monday for a welcoming ceremony and then to the media in his first press conference as the Red Raider head coach. We'll take you through some of the highlights in this article, starting with where he wants to lead the program and how he's going to get there. Â
"I believe we can win a national championship at Texas Tech University," McCasland said. "Believing, giving, and competing is what we will do every day here at Texas Tech. This is the toughest environment in all of college basketball. We believe that the toughest team wins. If we believe, give, and compete, one thing that will happen in the United Supermarkets Arena is we are going to have the wildest student section in college basketball. I've seen this place grow into something that is remarkable. I have so much for this building on game day and what you all have poured your hearts into. I want to help us bring a national championship to Texas Tech."
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."
McCasland led Midland College to the 2007 national championship and talked at the press conference about how that experience leading the Chaparrals has influenced who he is as a coach at this stage in his career:
"I think the biggest thing that I've learned is that there's a competitiveness that's required first and foremost, to win. We have kind of had the philosophy of serve, believe, give, compete. I think when you first step into those locker rooms, every time they better believe that you're going to win a championship, and that you can say it, it's another thing to walk in there and have that expectation every day. That's what we do. We have the standard that we're going to win a national championship. So how do we approach every day, and that was a credit to those days at Midland. I've grown a lot, right? I think the biggest part of that is the staff component. How do you trust people that you love? And how do you build a group that all goes in the same direction? You know, we did everything. I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a head coach. So that part of it I love and I think that that willingness to do anything is still a big part of but I think utilizing staff is probably the biggest part. From a basketball standpoint, when we've played, you learn to manage the game, to give your team the best chance to win. I think there's a lot of areas that we've been able to grow in regards to that."
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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."
"I believe we can win a national championship at Texas Tech University," McCasland said. "Believing, giving, and competing is what we will do every day here at Texas Tech. This is the toughest environment in all of college basketball. We believe that the toughest team wins. If we believe, give, and compete, one thing that will happen in the United Supermarkets Arena is we are going to have the wildest student section in college basketball. I've seen this place grow into something that is remarkable. I have so much for this building on game day and what you all have poured your hearts into. I want to help us bring a national championship to Texas Tech."
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."
McCasland led Midland College to the 2007 national championship and talked at the press conference about how that experience leading the Chaparrals has influenced who he is as a coach at this stage in his career:
"I think the biggest thing that I've learned is that there's a competitiveness that's required first and foremost, to win. We have kind of had the philosophy of serve, believe, give, compete. I think when you first step into those locker rooms, every time they better believe that you're going to win a championship, and that you can say it, it's another thing to walk in there and have that expectation every day. That's what we do. We have the standard that we're going to win a national championship. So how do we approach every day, and that was a credit to those days at Midland. I've grown a lot, right? I think the biggest part of that is the staff component. How do you trust people that you love? And how do you build a group that all goes in the same direction? You know, we did everything. I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a head coach. So that part of it I love and I think that that willingness to do anything is still a big part of but I think utilizing staff is probably the biggest part. From a basketball standpoint, when we've played, you learn to manage the game, to give your team the best chance to win. I think there's a lot of areas that we've been able to grow in regards to that."
Â
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."
Behind the Mic - TTU vs WVU
Sunday, February 08
Postgame Press Conference at WVU
Sunday, February 08
McCasland Media Session
Friday, February 06
Postgame Press Conference: vs. No. 11 Kansas
Monday, February 02