Following Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech should not have been a hard act.
However, whatever Matt Wells did after the current Arizona Cardinals coach went 35-40 in Lubbock wasn’t good enough.
The Red Raiders announced Monday that Wells “has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.”
Texas Tech has announced a change in leadership for the @TexasTechFB program as Sonny Cumbie will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
— Texas Tech Red Raiders (@TechAthletics) October 25, 2021
Since Wells took over going into the 2019 season, the Red Raiders are 13-17 and 7-16 in Big 12 games. Texas Tech is 5-3 and has the ominous task of facing fourth-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday.
Wells is in the third year of a six-year contract. To fire him without cause, Tech is obligated to pay Wells 70% of the amount remaining in his contract, around $7 million.
Wells’ final game was a 25-24 loss to Kansas State, which saw the Wildcats overcome a 14-0 deficit and convert a third-and-34 situation thanks to Texas Tech penalties.
Cumbie was at Texas Tech from 2009-13. He then went to TCU and returned to the Red Raiders in December as offensive coordinator.
