Clay McGuire to return as Texas Tech’s offensive line coach

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire announced Friday the hiring of Clay McGuire as the Red Raiders’ offensive line coach.

This will be Clay McGuire’s third stint on the Texas Tech coaching staff as he previously served in various roles from 2006-09, ultimately rising to special teams coordinator (2007-08) and running backs coach (2009) under Mike Leach before returning again in 2018 to be the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach for Kliff Kingsbury.

“We are excited to welcome Clay and his family back home to Texas Tech,” Joey McGuire said. “From the onset, I was impressed by his knowledge of this offense as well as his proven ability to build and develop strong offensive lines over an extended period of time. He will only add to the culture we have established within the football program.”

Clay McGuire (no relation to Joey McGuire) returns to his alma mater 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 during McGuire’s first six seasons with the Cougars, who averaged more than 30 points per game each of his last five seasons.

“My family and I couldn’t be happier to return home to Texas Tech and this football program,” Clay McGuire said. “I am extremely grateful to Coach McGuire for this opportunity and his trust in developing our offensive line. I can’t wait to meet our players, get around the staff and get to work on taking this program to new heights.”

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 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.

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. 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 return defense average (31st) and kickoff return defense average (29th).

McGuire 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. McGuire and his wife, Jeri, are the parents of two daughters, Jorja and Addison.

CLAY MCGUIRE COACHING HISTORY

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

–TECH–

Release Provided By Matt Dowdy Texas Tech Athletics