The Lady Raiders are ready to run it back with head coach Krista Gerlich, as she inked a new deal that keeps her in Lubbock through 2029-30.
Fresh off a memorable season, Texas Tech signed women's basketball head coach Krista Gerlich to a contract extension through 2029-30.
Gerlich has been at the helm of her alma mater for six seasons and tallied 103 wins in her tenure. Under the former Lady Raider, Texas Tech has reemerged as a serious team in women's college hoops.
She is coming off her best season with the Lady Raiders, which saw the team reach its highest win total in two decades and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. Not only did Texas Tech make the Big Dance, it earned an opening round win over 10-seed Villanova.
Texas Tech also spent most of the season ranked in either the Associated Press or Coaches' Top 25 polls and finished tied for fourth in the Big 12 after being tabbed 13th in the preseason media poll.
The season didn't end as joyous as it began, with the Lady Raiders getting blown out by LSU in the tournament's second round. However, the team's unprecedented success helped reshape the narrative around a former powerhouse of the sport.
Following her breakout campaign, Gerlich brought home the Big 12 Coach of the Year award and finished as a semifinalist for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year title.
The new deal has an added stipulation that an extra year will be added if the Lady Raiders make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. It also has the opportunity for bonuses following conference and postseason accomplishments on top of a $3.1 million price tag.
Gerlich expressed her gratitude for the extension and emphasized her continued commitment to returning Texas Tech to the national spotlight.
She stated, "I am extremely grateful to Kirby Hocutt and our administration for the opportunity to extend my commitment to Lady Raider Basketball. After navigating through a rebuilding phase and enjoying a long-awaited, historic season, we have laid a strong foundation for the future of this program."
"This is not just a personal milestone; it's a shared commitment to our dedicated players, alumni and community. Together, we will continue to strive for honor and make Texas Tech and the city of Lubbock proud," concluded Gerlich.
Texas Tech is losing core pieces from its March run next season, including longtime Lady Raider Bailey Maupin and Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year Snudda Collins. Despite their absence, Gerlich has showcased an ability to regroup and reload.
While it took a while to get there, it seems Gerlich has her beloved Lady Raiders right back where she envisioned. It doesn't appear that they will be heading back to where they were before, as long as Gerlich is leading the charge.