Texas Tech University Athletics
Gerlich announces staff additions
June 23, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech women's basketball head coach Krista Gerlich has announced the hiring of six full-time members to her coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season. The additions include Jackson Davis who will work as the program's Video Coordinator along with coaching assistants Ryan McMinn, Isaiah Fernandez, Kaden Cleavinger, Hazuki Inamine and Shantavia Dawkins.
Davis spent five years with the University of North Texas women's basketball program, serving four years as a student manager and one season as a graduate assistant after joining the program in 2021. Throughout his time with the Mean Green, he played an integral role in the program's day-to-day operations, earning recognition as the 2024 Women's Student Assistant of the Year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. During his five seasons at UNT, Davis helped support a period of sustained success that included three consecutive 19-win seasons and multiple appearances in national postseason tournaments.
In addition to his collegiate basketball experience, Davis worked as a Skill Development Assistant with Tyler Relph Basketball Academy, where he assisted in training NBA players, professional athletes, and elite basketball prospects. A native of Anna, Texas, Davis earned his bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the University of North Texas in May 2025 before transitioning into a graduate assistant role while pursuing a master's degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. In his role at Texas Tech, Davis oversees video operations, analytics, scouting support, and player development initiatives.
Coaching Assistants received an elevated title from the traditional Graduate Assistant title in the past. The NCAA passed a new rule earlier this summer allowing all full-time staff members to coach student-athletes directly along with being practice players. Dawkins comes into the role after playing at Dayton the past two seasons and two years at Iowa State while Inamine was an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State, McMinn served as a student manager at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Fernandez has experience as the New Mexico Director of Player Development and worked as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and Cleavinger worked the past two seasons as at Tech as a graduate manager.
The Lady Raiders are coming off a strong season where they went 26-8 overall, 12-6 in Big 12 play and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Tech began the season with 19 straight victories and would go 15-2 on their home court. Gerlich earned Big 12 Coach of the Year and signed a new four-year contract extension following the season where the team made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013. Lady Raider season tickets are currently available for the 2026-27 season by visiting TexasTech.com/tickets.
