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Gerlich named Lady Raider head coach
Krista Gerlich was hired to lead the Texas Tech women’s basketball team in August. (Photo Credit: UT-Arlington)

Gerlich named Lady Raider head coach

LUBBOCK, Texas (BVM) — Back on Aug. 18, Texas Tech announced that former Lady Raider legend Krista Gerlich was hired as the head coach of the women’s basketball program.

For the past seven seasons, she has been the head coach at UT-Arlington, where she won 121 games —  the most in the program’s history. The Lady Mavs also captured their first-ever regular-season championship under the direction of Gerlich during the 2018-19 season. 

I am excited to announce Krista Gerlich as our next Lady Raider basketball coach,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said in a press release. “Coach Gerlich has been outstanding as a head coach at both UT-Arlington and West Texas A&M, and her track record as a student-athlete at Texas Tech speaks for itself. I believe that she is the right person to lead our women’s basketball team, and I am excited to see what she and the Lady Raiders accomplish in the seasons ahead.”

Before her coaching career began, Gerlich graced the hardwood in Lubbock. She became an All-Southwest Conference player for the third time in 1993. She also helped the Lady Raiders capture the 1993 NCAA women’s basketball title while earning Final Four All-Tournament team honors.

Gerlich was also named to the all-time SWC team and an honorable mention All-American in 1993. She is also ranked third in school history with 553 career assists and 220 3-point field goals, fourth with a .417 three-point field goal percentage, and 13th with 1,324 career points. On Dec. 5, 1993, her No. 21 was retired by the women’s basketball program. Having her number retired made her one of only three Lady Raiders to have their numbers retired.

After coaching multiple years at the high school level, Gerlich spent three seasons (2003-2006) at Texas Tech as an assistant coach under Marsha Sharp. Following her role as an assistant coach, Gerlich was offered her first collegiate head coach position.

At West Texas A&M, a Division II program, Gerlich achieved an impressive 168-53 record in just seven seasons. While there, she became the quickest coach in WTAMU history to record 100, 125, and 150 wins. Gerlich also led the Lady Buffs to a 30-4 record during the 2009-10 season. It was the program’s first 30-win season since 1994.

Following a successful seven-season stint with West A&M, Gerlich was tagged to lead the UT-Arlington Lady Mavericks. She also spent seven seasons at UTA and was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2019. Gerlich also led the Lady Mavs to three 20-win seasons and the program’s first victory over a Power 5 school (Kansas State) since 2006.

Gerlich has succeeded at every coaching stop so far. Now, as she prepares to lead her alma mater for the upcoming NCAA basketball season, which starts Nov. 25, Gerlich couldn’t be happier about where she is and what lies ahead.

“I believe that Texas Tech is a pot of gold for every sport, and that’s illustrated by how well each program succeeds on a national level year in and year out,” Gerlich said in the press release. “There is no reason that Lady Raider basketball can’t do that too because we’ve already seen it done. We know we have the support, and I am looking forward to bringing that positive excitement and authentic love for the program back to my alma mater.”