May 13, 2024 |
Photo – Coach Jeff Linder – Bigfoot99 file photo
Say goodbye to Jeff Linder. The Wyoming head basketball coach won’t be around much longer. After an up-and-down run in Laramie for the last several years, Linder appears to have accepted an assistant coaching position at Texas Tech.
ESPN broke the story Thursday night, reporting that Tech is targeting Linder as Grant McCasland’s top assistant.
Linder’s arrival in Lubbock would mark a reunion for the two coaches. He spent two seasons as McCasland’s assistant at Midland Junior College, from 2004-06, when Midland won a combined 53 games.
Linder’s up-and-down ride in Laramie began in 2020. His overall record is 63-59 after a promising first year after leading Wyoming to a first-round appearance in the 2022 NCAA tournament with standout Cowboys Hunter Maldonado and Graham Ike.
Wyoming lost in opening round of First Four play to Indiana. Maldonado returned the following year to finish his senior season. Ike missed the entire season with a foot injury before transferring to Gonzaga the following year.
Before taking over at Wyoming, Linder was the head coach at Northern Colorado for four seasons. He went 80-50 overall, including three straight 20-win campaigns to end his time with the Bears.
McCasland just finished his first season as head coach at Texas Tech, where he led the Red Raiders to 23 wins and an NCAA tournament appearance. Tech is expected to return three double-figure scorers.
Back in Laramie, Former UW assistant Sundance Wicks and current UW associate head coach Ken DeWeese are expected to be on the short list of head coaching possibilities.
