Report: Jeff Linder Leaving Wyoming to Join Staff at Texas Tech
LARAMIE -- Wyoming is in the market for a new men's basketball coach.
Jeff Linder is reportedly leaving Laramie to become a top assistant under Grant McCasland at Texas Tech, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. A source familiar with the situation confirmed the news Thursday night.
The 46-year-old has been the Cowboys' bench boss for the previous four seasons and has an overall record of 63-59.
Wyoming made one appearance in the NCAA Tournament during Linder's brief stint, earning an at-large bid during the 2021-22 season.
Linder and McCasland were on the same staff at Midland College from 2004-06.
After a successful four-year run as the head coach at Northern Colorado, Linder was plucked away from Greeley after the 2019 campaign after leading the Bears to 80 total victories and a CIT Championship.
He signed on the dotted line when COVID-19 was sweeping the globe. Still, Linder managed to secure the top recruiting class in the Mountain West, highlighted by future league Freshman of the Year Marcus Williams and Preseason Player of the Year Graham Ike.
After a pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season that saw the Cowboys finish 14-11, Hunter Maldonado and Ike propelled the program to its first trip to March Madness since 2015, winning 25 games and finishing fourth in the conference standings. Wyoming fell to Indiana 66-58 in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.
That was the highlight of Linder's tenure.
Upheaval in the locker room and key injuries derailed the following season before it even began when Ike suffered a foot injury in the preseason that would sideline him throughout the entirety of the campaign.
In early February, three players -- Max Agbonkpolo, Ethan Anderson and Jake Kyman -- abruptly left the team midweek, stating mistreatment on their way out the door. Numerous other players would eventually flood the transfer portal, including 13 over the last two seasons.
Linder and Co. have already signed five new players from the portal this spring, including Portland forward Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams, who announced his commitment on Wednesday. Four freshmen are expected to join the team this summer.
An attempt to reach Linder was unsuccessful.