Coaching Staff Mike Leach --Head Coach The Red Raiders have improved their total offensive Texas Tech once again produced record numbers numbers from 324.8 yards per game to 491.7 during the 2004 campaign and led the nation and yards per game since Leach’s arrival. The last five Big 12 Conference in several categories. The Red seasons rank as the top five all-time at Tech in total Raiders led the country in passing offense and total offense, while scoring went from 23 points per offense for the second-straight season. Tech also led game in 1999 to 36.2 points last season. The most in completions and pass attempts for the fourth year significant increase has been in the passing game, in a row. where the Red Raiders averaged 399.7 yards per game in 2004 compared to 175.4 yards in 1999. Although Leach’s presence has been felt throughout the team, it also has been beneficial for the players The running game has flourished as well under individually. Leach. Running back Taurean Henderson rushed for 16 scores in 2004 to rank among the top scoring Symons was the second Tech quarterback to receive backs in the country. His touchdown total was the The Touchdown Club of Columbus’ Sammy Baugh most for a Red Raider since Byron Morris rushed Trophy (Kingsbury in 2002) and was named the for 22 in 1993. The Red Raiders’ 23 total rushing Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year. Symons Mike Leach continues to transform the face of Red scores were the most for a Tech team since the capped off his senior season with an invitation Raider football with an all-out aerial assault and 1996 campaign yielded 27. to the 2004 NFL Combine. The Heisman Trophy swarming defensive attack that has propelled the candidate was the fourth in a line of Leach-coached program into the national spotlight in the last four Additionally, recruiting has been one of the top quarterbacks to be mentioned as a candidate for seasons. beneficiaries since Leach’s arrival in December the award – Tim Couch at Kentucky, Josh Heupel at 1999. The Red Raiders’ 2005 recruiting class was Oklahoma and Kingsbury. Leading one of the most prolific passing offenses once again ranked among the top 25. From his in the country, Leach, who also serves as Tech’s first class in the spring of 2000 to this year’s list of Kingsbury, a 2002 All-Big 12 first-team quarterback quarterbacks coach, spreads the field with his newcomers, each class continues to get better. Not and sixth-round draft pick of the Patriots, led the Big exciting brand of football and has established only is Texas Tech recruiting the Texas area, but 12 Conference in several passing categories over himself as one of the top offensive coaches in the Leach also is extending the reach of the program his final three seasons and was a Heisman Trophy country. Leach’s offense produced school records across the country. candidate in 2002. He also was named the Verizon in nearly every passing category in 2000, but Academic All-American of the Year for football surpassed those numbers in each of the last four The level of recruiting Leach and his staff have and was awarded an $18,000 postgraduate seasons. His five teams have combined for over attained has reflected in the success of the team. scholarship by the National Football Foundation 150 team and individual records at Tech. One of the most recognizable areas is the offensive and College Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New line. The unit has continually improved each season York City. Last season, the Red Raiders won the NCAA and boasts more size and strength than the past. Passing Title for the third year in a row and led The number of sacks on Tech quarterbacks has Inside receiver Trey Haverty became the first the nation in completions and attempts. Tech also continued to decline each season. Tech saw a Associated Press All-American since Montae Reagor won its second-straight NCAA Total Offense Title. decrease from 46 sacks allowing in 2002 to 25 in 1998, when he was selected to the third team Additionally, Tech capped off its season with a last season. following last season’s campaign. Haverty finished 45-31 win over fourth-ranked California in the the season with a team-leading 77 receptions for Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. The Red Raiders finished The Red Raiders are not solely known for their 1,019 yards and six touchdowns. Running back the season ranked 17th and 18th in the ESPN/ play on the scoring side of the ball. The Texas Taurean Henderson and punt return specialist Wes USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls, Tech defense also has flourished during Leach’s Welker each set NCAA marks during the 2002 respectively. Tech also won at least eight games for four seasons. The Red Raiders tied for the national campaign. Henderson retrieved a freshman record the third-straight season for the first time in school lead with three shutouts in 2000 and followed with 98 receptions, while Welker returned an NCAA history. another in 2001 and 2002. Combined with the five record 57 punts. Welker continued his NCAA shutouts are three other games where the opposition record-setting run last season, establishing standards Senior quarterback Sonny Cumbie, in his first was held without an offensive touchdown. in career punt return yards and career punt returns year as a starter under Leach in 2004, closed the for touchdowns. Additionally, wide receiver Jarrett season with a personal-best 520-yard performance The play of the special teams has improved with Hicks set a school record with 13 touchdown the Bears in the bowl game and finished his final each season as well. Placekicker Alex Trlica finished receptions last season. season ranked sixth on the NCAA single-season his inaugural season with a mark of 55-of-55 on passing yardage chart with 4,742 yards. Cumbie extra points, marking only the fifth time in school Defensively, linebacker Lawrence Flugence led the nation in every passing category, the same history for a perfect season. Sophomore punter and defensive end Aaron Hunt also gained as his predecessors. Alex Reyes ranked among the Big 12’s top punters attention during their careers. Both were named during his sophomore season in 2004. Tech’s to All-America teams in 2002 and were listed as In 2003, Heisman Trophy candidate and kickoff, punting and return teams also have seen a candidates for various national awards. Hunt was quarterback B.J. Symons capped off his senior dramatic improvement in the last five seasons. drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft season with an NCAA Passing Championship and by the Denver Broncos, while Flugence signed a an NCAA single-season record 5,833 passing While leading the Red Raiders to 39 wins in his free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. In yards. A year earlier, current New Orleans Saints first five seasons, Leach is the only coach in school 2003, strong safety Ryan Aycock was one of the quarterback Kliff Kingsbury finished his senior history to lead his first five teams to bowl games. top defensive players in the country, reeling in six campaign ranked in total offense (2nd), completions The 39 wins are the most in a Tech head coach’s interceptions and 101 tackles. (1st), attempts (1st) and passing touchdowns (1st). first five seasons. The record-setting quarterback also set 17 NCAA Leach has coached several players who have gone records during his career and tied three other on to the NFL, including Kingsbury, Couch, Heupel marks. and Symons. While at Tech, seven players have 108 Coaching Staff been drafted and nine others have signed free 427.2 yards per game. agent contracts. Center Dylan Gandy was selected The rise in passing and scoring offense categories by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the is just as impressive. Oklahoma went from last to 2005 NFL Draft, while offensive tackle Daniel Loper first in the Big 12 in passing offense in one year, Mike Leach and linebacker Mike Smith were picked in the fifth from 107th in the country to ninth. Under Leach, the and seventh rounds, respectively, by the Tennessee Sooners improved from 109.9 yards passing per Quick Facts Titans and Baltimore Ravens. game to 321.7 yards per game. The team continues to make strides academically as In 1998, Oklahoma was last in the Big 12 and PERSONAL well under Leach. For the last eight years Tech has 101st in the country in scoring offense at 16.7 Born: March 9, 1961, in Susanville, Calif. placed more players on the Academic All Big 12 points per game. In 1999, the Sooners improved Hometown: Cody, Wyoming team than any other institution except Nebraska. In to second in the league and eighth in the country in 2004 six players were working on postgraduate scoring at 36.8 points per game, an increase of just Married: Sharon degrees. For the last five years Tech has been over 20 points per game. Children: Daughters, Janeen, Kim and Kiersten; recognized as one of the nation’s top institutions for consistently being above a 70 percent gradation Under Leach, the Oklahoma offense set six Big 12 Son, Cody rate, according to the American Football Coaches Conference and 17 OU records. The Sooners were Association. one of only two schools in the nation to have six players with 20 or more receptions in 1999.