LUBBOCK, Texas — On Friday, Texas Tech announced that Mack Leftwich has been appointed as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. This change follows the departure of Zach Kittley, who recently accepted the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic University.
Leftwich is transitioning from his role at Texas State, where he served as the offensive coordinator for the past two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference. Although he is joining coach Joey McGuire’s staff with the Red Raiders, who finished the season with an 8-4 record, he will not be involved in coaching for the upcoming bowl game.
During Leftwich’s tenure at Texas State, the team’s offensive performance has notably improved, with the Bobcats scoring an average of 37.1 points and gaining 474.3 total yards per game this season. This marked a significant rise from his first year, where they scored an average of 36.7 points per game. Prior to his arrival, Texas State struggled offensively, averaging just 21.1 points per game in 2022.
Currently, Texas Tech leads the Big 12 with an impressive 38.6 points and 459.9 yards per game, showcasing its strong offensive identity. Coach McGuire emphasized the importance of maintaining a tempo-based, balanced offensive style during this transition, citing Leftwich’s fit for that approach. He mentioned that Leftwich has rapidly risen in the ranks among offensive coordinators nationwide and highlighted the significance of balance in the offense, particularly after the success of running back Tahj Brooks over the past two seasons.
Before his role at Texas State, the 30-year-old Leftwich spent five seasons at Incarnate Word, where he notably became offensive coordinator in 2022. Under his guidance, the Cardinals led all teams in the FBS and FCS with an astounding average of 51.5 points per game that year.
Furthermore, McGuire has also hired Shiel Wood as the new defensive coordinator after parting ways with Tim DeRuyter and Marcel Yates following the conclusion of the regular season. Wood previously held the same position at Houston as Texas Tech aims to revamp its defense, which ranked 15th among the 16 teams in the Big 12.
