Smith will replace Josh Pastner, who left Memphis to become head coach at Georgia Tech.
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(Editor’s note): Numerous local sources, including the Commercial Appeal and WMC Channel 5, are reporting this morning that Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith will be the Memphis Tigers’ next head basketball coach.
Last month, Smith led Texas Tech to the NCAA Tournament, becoming just the second head coach to guide five schools into the NCAA field. The school is expected to make a decision by week’s end.
Smith is 64 years old and has had success everywhere during a 25-year head coaching career.
Memphis’ interest in Smith was reported by Dan Wolken of USA Today, and Smith has alerted Texas Tech administrators that he is involved in Memphis’ process.
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He came to Texas Tech in 2013 from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He coached Kentucky to the national title in 1998 and to three Elite Eight appearances after that, but he also hasn’t led a team past the tournament’s first weekend since 2005. He took the Red Raiders to the dance last season for the first time since 2007.
