Texas Tech has reached an agreement with Krista Gerlich on a new four-year contract, keeping the Lady Raiders’ head coach at her alma institution through the 2029-30 season.
The new agreement has a clause requiring an additional year to be added to the contract if the Lady Raiders reach the NCAA Tournament at any point throughout the first four seasons. The $3. 1 million agreement also has an improved bonus structure for conference and postseason accomplishments.
Our women’s basketball program made great progress this past season under Coach Gerlich, and this new deal demonstrates our dedication to helping him continue to build on that achievement, according to Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt. I feel our best days are yet to come, and I look forward to witnessing our Lady Raider program grow even more under her leadership.
Texas Tech is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 and its first NCAA Tournament triumph since 2005 under Gerlich, who has 103 victories at her alma mater and overall winning seasons in each of the previous four seasons. The Lady Raiders compiled a 26-8 overall record and a 12-6 Big 12 mark, placing tied for fourth in the league after being predicted 13th in the preseason poll.
Texas Tech placed in the top-25 of the national polls for 12 consecutive weeks, earning the program’s greatest conference finish since the 2012-13 season, the most overall victories since the 2002-03 season, and the most Big 12 victories since the 2004-05 season. Gerlich was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and a Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year semifinalist after leading Texas Tech to three top-15 triumphs on the season and a record 19-0 start.
I am really grateful to Kirby Hocutt and our administration for allowing me to continue my commitment to Lady Raider basketball, Gerlich said. After navigating through a remodeling phase and having a long-awaited, historic season, we have established a solid basis for the future of this program. This is more than just a personal milestone; it’s a shared pledge to our loyal players, alumni, and community. Together, we will continue to fight for honor and make Texas Tech and the city of Lubbock proud.
