Breaking News: McCasland has announced three names that he intends to hire as staff members for the time being, and has pledged to……..
LUBBOCK — Texas Tech head basketball coach Grant McCasland has promoted Chris Nottingham and added Brian Pete to his coaching staff. In his second season with the team, Nottingham will serve as Director of Player Development, while Pete joins the staff as Video Coordinator, having previously worked in the same role at Vanderbilt the previous two seasons. Pete attended Gonzaga and has worked for both the San Antonio Spurs and Nike.
Luke Barnwell, Matt Braeuer, Jeff Linder, and Achoki Moikobu serve as assistant coaches at McCasland, as do Andrew Wright (Strength and Conditioning), Mike Neal (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine), Jardon Powell (Director of Administration & Operations), Kellen Buffington (General Manager), Cooper Anderson (Associate Director of Operations), and Tony Lopez (Director of Creative Content).
Along with two seasons as a video coordinator at Vanderbilt, Pete served as a graduate assistant for the Commodores in 2019-20 and 2020-21, as well as assistant video coordinator in 2021-22. During his two years as a graduate assistant, Pete aided the coaching and support staff in developing recruiting content and collaborated closely with the video coordinator on workflows for creating and organizing recruiting films and graphics. He provided post-game analytics, arranged opponent game films, engaged in practice, and helped develop All-SEC honorees Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr., as well as 2020 lottery pick Aaron Nesmith.
As an undergraduate at Gonzaga, Pete worked as a quality assurance assistant with the Spurs for two summers, collaborating with front office operations on a variety of free agency and NBA draft-related activities. He assisted in facilitating workouts with draft class members and accompanied the front office personnel to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League.
Pete was a manager for Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team before becoming a walk-on as a senior. During his four years with the Bulldogs, he was a member of two Sweet 16 teams, one Elite 8, and one national championship game. Pete was a member of the 2017-18 squad that won 32 games and peaked at No. 6 in the nation on its way to the West Coast Conference regular season and tournament championships, as well as the NCAA Sweet 16.
Pete, who previously worked as an inventory sales analyst at Nike and participated in a study abroad program in China, graduated from Vanderbilt in 2021 with a master’s degree in leadership and organizational performance. In 2018, he graduated from Gonzaga University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
Nottingham, who joined the Texas Tech men’s basketball program in May 2023, is in his second season under McCasland after helping the Red Raiders reach the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Nottingham served as the program’s Video Coordinator during his first season.
Nottingham, a Baylor graduate, served in a variety of roles for the BU program, which won the 2021 National Championship and two conference titles during his tenure in Waco. He started as a student manager from 2017 to 2020 before becoming a graduate assistant from 2020 to 2023. He worked with head coach Scott Drew and his staff, as well as players, to help them develop their game.
“Chris really knows how to educate our staff through video, but having a feel and understanding of the game to better our team is what sets him apart,” McCasland explained.
Nottingham, a Chickasha, Oklahoma native, is coming off a graduate assistantship in the 2022-23 season, where he worked closely with BU assistant coach John Jakus on the guards. He helped with film projects, individual instruction, and a variety of other tasks. During that time, Baylor won the 2021 National Championship and the 2021 and 2022 Big 12 Conference Championships. He would also get expertise and contribute to the program by conducting analytics on team offense, team defense, individual defense, and individual/position group offense.
Nottingham received a master’s degree in Sports Pedagogy from Baylor University after earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management.
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Tech announces the 2024 Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor Class.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome six new members: Danny Amendola (football), Cory Carr (men’s basketball), Amanda Dowdy (volleyball), Taylor Lytle (soccer), Ifeatu Okafor (track), and Omo Osaghae (track), as well as two-time national championship coach Wes Kittley.
On Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., the 2024 Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor class will be formally inducted at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The whole 2024 class will be celebrated on the field the next day, when the Red Raiders visit Colorado at Jones AT&T Stadium.
In addition to the Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor inductions, Texas Tech will honor Red Raider football legend Derrell “Mookie” Mitchell with the renowned Heritage Award. Since its inception in 2005, the Heritage Award has been regarded as one of the highest accolades a former letterwinner can get. It is intended to celebrate a former letterwinner who has excelled in their chosen area while demonstrating sportsmanship, character, and integrity.
Additional information on the Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor Ceremony, including individual ticket and table information, will be released later this fall.
Danny Amendola (2004–2007)
Amendola has been one of the top wide receivers and return specialists since Texas Tech transitioned to a spread passing offense at the turn of the millennium. Following in the footsteps of Wes Welker, Amendola continued Texas Tech’s tradition of successful inside receivers while also adding his own flair as a powerful punt returner.
Amendola, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, including first-team honors as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2004. He remained one of the top wide receivers in school history, catching 204 passes for 2,246 yards and 15 touchdowns over four seasons and finishing his stint in scarlet and black as one of only five Red Raiders to reach 200 career grabs. Amendola finished his career with 109 receptions as a senior, which is still the second most in Texas Tech single-season history. That season, he accumulated 1,245 receiving yards, which was the fourth-highest total in school history at the time and the eighth-highest to today.
Amendola could also affect the game on special teams, having returned 116 punts for an excellent average of 11.1 yards per attempt over his career. Amendola is still one of only three Red Raiders in program history to have more than 100 returns and 1,000 punt return yards in a career, alongside Welker and Tyrone Thurman.
Following his Red Raider tenure, Amendola enjoyed success in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Following the 2021 season, Amendola retired from the NFL after collecting 617 receptions for 6,212 yards and 24 touchdowns with the St. Louis Rams (2009-12), New England Patriots (2013-17), Miami Dolphins (2018), Detroit Lions (2019-20), and Houston Texans. Amendola was chosen to the Patriots’ All-Decade Team for the 2010s after helping the team win Super Bowls XLIX and LI, where he caught a touchdown in each.
Cory Carr (1994–1998)
Carr was a powerful scorer for the Red Raiders across four seasons, earning All-America accolades and finishing with 1,904 points. Carr, a native of Kingsland, Arkansas, averaged 23.1 points per game as a junior and 23.3 as a senior, ranking second in Tech history with 262 3-pointers made. Through 115 games, he averaged 16.6 points per game and is sixth in school history in terms of total points scored. He was a three-time all-conference standout, receiving All-Big 12 accolades as a junior and senior after being nominated to the Southwest Conference Second Team as a sophomore.
Along with his scoring ability, Carr concluded his collegiate career with 224 assists, 80 steals, and 411 rebounds. Carr was a Wooden Award nominee as a senior and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. His scoring average of 23.3 points per game during the 1997-98 season is third in program history, with 23.4 points per conference game ranking first. Carr scored a career-high 39 points against Louisiana as a senior and averaged more than 30 points in ten games, ranking second in Tech history, while also shooting seven 3-pointers in three games.
Carr, a two-time Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, scored 48 straight games of double-digit scoring between his junior and senior seasons. He was named to the Basketball Times All-America Third Team as a senior after receiving UPI All-America Honorable Mention as a junior, along with All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Throughout his career, he was named Big 12 Player of the Week four times: twice as a junior and twice more as senior.
Carr was a member of the USA National Select Team, competing in the FIBA Americas U20 Championship and FIBA U21 World Championship. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft and played for the Chicago Bulls in 1999 before embarking on an extended professional career overseas.
Amanda Dowdy (2008-2011)
Dowdy has had one of the most successful volleyball careers in program history. From 2008 to 2011, she was named to the All-Big 12 First Team twice in 2010 and 2011, as well as the All-Big 12 Rookie Team in 2008, making her the first Red Raider to win that accolade. She is one of only two athletes in program history to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team twice in her career. Dowdy was named to the USA Volleyball Junior National Team in 2009, and she remains the only Red Raider to have received the award. She was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in each of the three seasons she was eligible.
Dowdy’s 1,495 career kills and 4.268 attack attempts remain the second highest in program history. She has 454 kills in 2011, which is the eighth most in a single season. She also still holds the single-match record for most kills, with 37 versus Colorado in 2010. Just a month later, she tallied the third-most kills in program history, 34 against Colorado.
Dowdy was temporarily on the indoor track and field team, where she participated in high jump and finished in the top five three times. Dowdy spent three seasons overseas after her undergraduate career before returning to the United States full-time and joining the Pro Beach Volleyball League in 2017. She won the silver medal in her maiden international event with Corinne Quiggle in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, going 5-2 after receiving a wildcard admission. She retired from the professional beach circuit in 2021.
Taylor Lytle (2008–2011)
Taylor Lytle, the program’s all-time assist leader, had one of the best careers in Texas Tech soccer history as an early star of the Tom Stone era. Lytle finished her Red Raider career at eighth all-time in total points, third all-time in shot attempts, and as the all-time leader in assists. Lytle was selected Central Region All-Freshman as well as Third Team All-Freshman Soccer Buzz during her debut season as a Red Raider. Lytle started all 19 games that season, leading the Red Raiders in assists, points, and shots.
Lytle was once again a powerhouse offensively for the Red Raiders during her sophomore season in 2009, recording a then-program record 11 assists and four goals. Along with her 19 points, the Las Cruces native made 91 shots, a program record at the time. Lytle’s 11 total assists led the Big 12 Conference and was eighth nationally. The midfielder was named to both the First Team All-Big 12 and the NSCAA All-Region teams, becoming only the second player in program history (first since 1998) to receive first-team all-conference recognition.
Taylor Lytle, the program’s all-time assist leader, had one of the best careers in Texas Tech soccer history as an early star of the Tom Stone era. Lytle finished her Red Raider career at eighth all-time in total points, third all-time in shot attempts, and as the all-time leader in assists. Lytle was selected Central Region All-Freshman as well as Third Team All-Freshman Soccer Buzz during her debut season as a Red Raider. Lytle started all 19 games that season, leading the Red Raiders in assists, points, and shots.
