Football
- Title:
- Offensive Line Coach
Clay McGuire enters his second season back on the Texas Tech sidelines as the Red Raiders’ offensive line coach. This is McGuire’s third stint on the Texas Tech coaching staff and first overseeing the offensive line after coaching the position for more than 10 years overall.
McGuire previously served his alma mater in various roles from 2006-09, ultimately rising to special teams coordinator (2007-08) and running backs coach (2009) under the late Mike Leach before returning again in 2018 to be the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach for Kliff Kingsbury. He is believed to be only the second assistant coach in school history to serve three different stints on the Texas Tech coaching staff, joining the late Carlos Mainord.
Texas Tech boasted one of the nation’s top offenses during McGuire’s first season back at his alma mater as the Red Raiders closed the season ranked fourth in the FBS for scoring at 37.6 points per game as well as ninth for both total offense a contest (462.7) and passing yards per game (296.7). It marked Texas Tech’s most points per game since its 2016 offense averaged 43.7 a contest behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes II.
In addition, Tahj Brooks became Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher after carving up defenses to the tune of more than 1,500 rushing yards to again rank among the national leaders. This despite relying on an offensive line that utilized six different starting combinations up front throughout the season due to injury.
Caleb Rogers was one consistent mainstay on the unit, though, as he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades after starting at both guard and tackle as needed. His flexibility and athleticism paid dividends as Rogers was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, marking the first time a Texas Tech offensive lineman had heard his name called in the first three rounds since Le’Raven Clark did so in 2016 by the Indianapolis Colts.
McGuire (no relation to Joey McGuire) returned to Texas Tech following two seasons as the offensive line coach at Washington State, his second stint with the Cougars after serving in a similar capacity for six years under Mike Leach from 2012-17. Washington State transformed into one of the most-dominating offenses in the country under Leach as the Cougars averaged more than 30 points per game in each of McGuire’s last five seasons. The Cougars played in five bowl games over his eight combined seasons in Pullman as McGuire has been part of 10 bowl teams during his coaching career.
Part of the Cougars’ success stemmed from the offensive line as McGuire recruited and coached several All-Pac 12 selections, including Joe Dahl, one of the top offensive linemen in Washington State history. Dahl, who transferred to Washington State soon after McGuire’s hire in 2012, earned second team All-America honors by USA Today as a senior in 2015 to go along with All-Pac 12 first team accolades. Dahl was later selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, marking the first time a Washington State offensive lineman has been chosen since 2001. In addition, he was the highest Cougar offensive lineman taken since 1997.
McGuire sent another Cougar to the NFL ranks following the 2017 season as Cole Madison, a three-time All-Pac 12 honoree, heard his name called in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. The 2017 season also closed the career of another McGuire protégé in two-time All-America selection Cody O’Connell, who became only the second unanimous All-American in Washington State history in 2016 and was the school’s first Outland Trophy finalist.
O’Connell was a consensus All-American in 2017 after closing his career by earning first-team accolades from the Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News. He was the first Cougar to earn first team All-America honors in consecutive seasons since running back Rueben Mayes in 1984-85 and the first offensive lineman ever to do so.
In addition, McGuire also mentored Andre Dillard, the No. 22 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as four-time All-Pac 12 selection Abe Lucas while with the Cougars. Dillard was the first Cougar offensive lineman in school history to be selected in the first round as his selection marked the third time in a four-year stretch one of McGuire’s pupils entered the NFL via the draft. He started in 39 games at left tackle under McGuire, earning third team All-America honors as a senior in 2018 after allowing only one sack and 13 total pressures in 722 pass-blocking snaps.
In addition to his time at Washington State, McGuire has also mentored successful offensive lines recently at both Texas State (2019-20) and USC (2021). Those two stints followed his one season back on the Texas Tech staff where the Red Raiders averaged an impressive 37.3 points per game and 485.2 yards of total offense during the 2018 season.
McGuire, a four-year letterwinner as a blocking back for the Red Raiders from 2001-04, earned his first full-time assistant position five games into the 2007 season as he took over special teams duties, a role he earned on a permanent basis in 2008. Texas Tech opponents averaged just 6.7 yards per punt return once McGuire took over, while the kickoff coverage unit ranked second in the Big 12 in fewest return yards allowed.
Following his stint in Lubbock, McGuire joined Ruffin McNeil’s staff at East Carolina where he helped reshape the Pirate’s offense into one of the most explosive units in the country. East Carolina averaged 36.8 points per game in McGuire’s first season alone as running back Jon Williams totaled 847 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Pirates were also drastically improved on special teams in 2010 as East Carolina ranked among the top-35 schools nationally in punt return average (30th), punt coverage(31st) and kickoff coverage (29th).
McGuire previously starred at quarterback and defensive end at Crane High School prior to becoming the first high school prospect to commit to the Red Raiders during the Leach era. He has two degrees from Texas Tech as he earned his bachelor’s in history in 2004 and his master’s in secondary education in 2007. His older brother, Cody, also played for the Red Raiders from 1994-97 under legendary head coach Spike Dykes.
McGuire and his wife, Jeri, are the parents of two daughters, Jorja and Addison.
CLAY MCGUIRE COACHING HISTORY
2024-present – Texas Tech Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
2022-23 – Washington State Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
2021 – USC Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
2019-20 – Texas State Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
2018 – Texas Tech Co-Offensive Coordinator (Running Backs)
2012-17 – Washington State Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
2010-11 – East Carolina Assistant Coach (Running Backs/Special Teams)
2009 – Texas Tech Assistant Coach (Running Backs)
2007-08 – Texas Tech Assistant Coach (Special Teams)
2007 – Texas Tech Graduate Assistant (Offensive)
2006 – Texas Tech Video Intern
