It might be time to have the awkward conversation about Texas Tech head baseball coach Tim Tadlock. His contract status has him locked in through the 2031 season. This is according to the notice that athletic director Kirby Hocutt sent out back in the fall to revise the “lifetime” contract of the Red Raider alum.
When Tadlock arrived back in Lubbock as an assistant coach in 2012, it was going poorly for the Red Raiders. They finished 29-26 and 7-17 in the Big 12. Not too far off from where the team currently sits at 22-22 (6-15). Once Tadlock took over as the head coach, the following season, the team was right on par with a 26-30(9-15) record, but the turnaround was coming at full throttle.
Over the next six seasons, the Red Raiders would make the College World Series four times and once be eliminated in the regionals. The new standard for Texas Tech baseball had been set. Up until that point, Tech had never made it to Omaha to compete in the College World Series, and now they had a taste for it. Since the 2020 season was canceled after Tech started 16-3, they haven’t quite been the same. Especially over the last three seasons.
Looking at the beginning of the 2024 season through now, the Red Raiders under Tadlock are a combined 75-81 and 31-49 in Big 12 play. After this past weekend’s sweep and even going back to the sweep the previous weekend against Utah, it is painfully clear that there won’t be a postseason trip this year, either. The Red Raiders will miss the postseason for a third consecutive year, which hasn’t happened since they missed the postseason every year from 2005 to 2013.
When looking at the trajectory of the program, it becomes more painful when you see how quickly the softball program has become a national power. Investing in the program has breathed new life into the sport, and it has fans excited about softball.
Which begs the question, should the athletic department look to do the same with baseball? The Avalanche-Journal obtained NIL numbers in an open-records request. Here is how that breaks down:
This year’s number hasn’t been released as of yet, but it appears that the number of dollars has increased. However, when you compare that to what softball spent in 2025, you can see why they have been so successful. That number was $2,003,103.59. That is almost double what baseball spent. Is this an NIL issue or the baseball head coach being NIL-resistant?
It seems to be the latter, and Tadlock has even acknowledged being among those who believed he could keep winning without adapting to the new NIL era of sports. The point becomes increasingly clear: either adapt or perish. It feels like Texas Tech baseball is perishing right before our very eyes.
One discussion for the offseason is whether or not to give this one more run or tear it all down and try again. And that is the $1 million question for Hocutt and the administration.
This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Tough decision could be on the horizon for Texas Tech baseball
Reporting by Patrick Conn, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
