The announcement from Texas Tech’s athletic department regarding changes to the women’s basketball coaching staff marks a critical turning point for the Lady Raiders, as the program seeks to regain prominence in the Big 12 Conference. With Head Coach Krista Gerlich now entering a pivotal stretch in her tenure, the restructuring of the staff signals a clear intent to retool, refocus, and recalibrate the trajectory of the program.
This move did not come as a complete surprise. While the Lady Raiders managed to put together a winning season, finishing 19–18, the campaign was defined by inconsistency. Moments of promise, such as a hard-fought victory over Virginia Tech in the postseason, were counterbalanced by stretches of underwhelming performances in conference play. The team struggled to find its rhythm against some of the Big 12’s more elite programs, highlighting a need for strategic adjustments both on and off the court.
Gerlich, who has been at the helm of the program since 2020, made it clear in her postseason address that a shake-up was necessary to help the team reach its full potential. She thanked both Ashley Odom and Plenette Pierson for their service and contributions to the program, emphasizing that the decision was difficult but essential for the long-term success of Lady Raider basketball.
Odom, known for her strong recruiting ties and development acumen, had become a cornerstone of the Lady Raiders’ recruitment process over the last few years. She played an instrumental role in bringing several high-profile recruits to Lubbock and was particularly known for her work developing guard play and backcourt leadership. Her departure raises questions about how the program will move forward with recruiting, especially in a Big 12 landscape that’s becoming increasingly competitive with the additions of programs like Houston and BYU and the departure of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.
Pierson, on the other hand, brought with her the wisdom and grit of a professional player. A former WNBA champion and All-Star, her transition to coaching gave Texas Tech’s players a glimpse into what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. Her focus was often on the development of post players, helping anchor the team’s physicality and toughness in the paint. Her exit leaves a notable gap in experience when it comes to mentoring forwards and centers who aspire to professional careers.
Despite the losses, Gerlich remains optimistic. In her press statement, she noted that this offseason is an opportunity to reimagine the future of Lady Raiders basketball and bring in coaches who are not only tactically astute but also align with her vision of culture, effort, and accountability. There is also an emphasis on modernizing the program’s approach—whether that means leaning further into analytics, reshaping offensive schemes, or finding assistants with strong NIL and transfer portal connections.
NIL, in particular, has become an essential aspect of any collegiate program’s strategic planning, and Texas Tech is no exception. The ability to retain top players or attract transfer talent will depend in part on how the new staff navigates the ever-changing world of name, image, and likeness. The Red Raider community has invested in various NIL collectives, and Gerlich will now need to surround herself with a staff that understands the dynamics of roster management in the current era of college sports.
Behind the scenes, support for Gerlich remains solid. Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt reaffirmed his belief in her ability to lead the program during this transition, citing her deep ties to Texas Tech—Gerlich is an alumna of the university—as one of the reasons why she remains the right person for the job. Still, this coming season will likely serve as a proving ground for the direction she’s steering the team.
The Lady Raiders’ upcoming non-conference schedule and early Big 12 matchups will be closely scrutinized. Fans and analysts alike will be looking for signs that the new staff is fostering growth, particularly in the areas where the team faltered this past year—defensive consistency, rebounding efficiency, and half-court offensive execution. In 2024–25, the Lady Raiders often relied on individual brilliance rather than sustained team synergy, something Gerlich and her incoming assistants will be tasked with fixing.
Recruiting will also take center stage. The class of 2025 holds several potential program-changers, and whether Texas Tech can secure commitments from top prospects may hinge on the new staff’s ability to quickly form relationships and sell their vision. The coaching carousel across women’s college basketball has already seen significant movement this offseason, and Tech’s next hires will need to stand out in a crowded market.
Player reaction to the changes has been mixed but mostly positive. Several current Lady Raiders took to social media to thank Odom and Pierson for their mentorship while expressing cautious optimism about the future. Junior guard Bre’Amber Scott, one of the team’s emotional leaders, posted a heartfelt message thanking the outgoing coaches for “believing in us through the highs and lows” while adding that “change is part of growth.”
In the days since the announcement, speculation has already begun about potential candidates for the vacant positions. Names with Texas roots and strong recruiting backgrounds are being floated, including former Tech assistant and current mid-major head coaches who may be ready for a return to Power Five competition. There is also talk of Gerlich targeting assistants with WNBA ties or those who have worked with Olympic-level players, a move that would elevate the program’s national profile.
This moment could prove to be a defining one for Lady Raiders basketball. The program has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013, and while the WNIT win over Virginia Tech was a morale booster, it was also a reminder of how far the team still has to go to return to its championship-contending days. In the early 2000s, Texas Tech was a national powerhouse, winning the NCAA title in 1993 under Marsha Sharp. Reclaiming even a shadow of that success will require not just talent, but alignment at every level—from the administration to the coaching staff, to the locker room.
Ultimately, this offseason provides an opportunity for a fresh start. The departure of Odom and Pierson closes one chapter, but it also opens the door to new possibilities. If Gerlich can find the right voices to add to her bench, and if those voices can help translate vision into victories, Texas Tech could begin to climb back into the national conversation.
In Lubbock, the belief still lingers that the Lady Raiders can once again be a powerhouse in women’s college basketball. The work begins now.