Texas Tech University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Maddox/Texas Tech Athletics
Gerlich named to Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List
February 18, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head Coach Krista Gerlich was named to the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Watch List as announced by the organization on Wednesday afternoon. Coach Gerlich is the only Big 12 head coach on the list.
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The Texas Tech Lady Raiders are 23-4 overall and 10-4 in Big 12 play, currently one game back from leading the conference. This season has been nothing short of impressive for the Lady Raiders, breaking streaks and records along the way. Coach Gerlich has now recorded eight ranked wins in her tenure at Texas Tech, four of which were top-15 victories.
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Right now, Texas Tech totals its most Big 12 wins since the 2012-13 season and the most overall wins since the 2004-05 season. With the win over Houston on Jan. 13, the Lady Raiders tied the program record single-season win streak of 19 wins, which was set in the 1992-93 national championship season. Coincidentally, it is also the longest win streak in a single season in program history (Jan. 27, 1992 – April 4, 1993). The Lady Raiders began conference at 6-0, which is the best Big 12 start since 2000-01.
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Boasting three quad one wins on the season, Texas Tech accomplished its best start in program history at 19-0 while also checking into the national rankings for the first time since 2012. Tech defeated No. 15-ranked Baylor in Waco on Dec. 21, 2025, snapping a 31-game Baylor winning streak dating back to 2011. It was also Tech's first win at Baylor since Feb. 8, 2004 and first top-15 win since 2022. The Lady Raiders defeated Arizona, 80-49, on Jan. 3, 2026, their biggest win margin in a regular-season conference game since Jan. 15, 2005.
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Tech also posted its first win in Morgantown since Jan. 14, 2015 and only the third time in program history winning in Mountaineer territory. In addition, the Lady Raiders earned their first win in program history over Cincinnati, a team Tech was previously 0-3 all-time against. With their wins at West Virginia and at Cincinnati, the Lady Raiders posted back-to-back road conference wins for the first time since 2004-05. On Feb. 1, Texas Tech earned its first win in February since 2023, taking down its second top-15 opponent in No. 12 TCU by a 62-60 score.
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With the victory against Kansas on Feb. 10, Coach Gerlich earned her 100th career win at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Coach Gerlich now totals 389 career wins in her head coaching career. She is one victory away from tying her win total as a player for Texas Tech (1989-93), when she tallied 101 over her four-year playing career under legendary head coach Marsha Sharp. Texas Tech was picked 13th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 Preseason Poll and are poised to finish as one of the top teams in the conference with four more regular-season games left.
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Full Watch List:
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The Texas Tech Lady Raiders are 23-4 overall and 10-4 in Big 12 play, currently one game back from leading the conference. This season has been nothing short of impressive for the Lady Raiders, breaking streaks and records along the way. Coach Gerlich has now recorded eight ranked wins in her tenure at Texas Tech, four of which were top-15 victories.
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Right now, Texas Tech totals its most Big 12 wins since the 2012-13 season and the most overall wins since the 2004-05 season. With the win over Houston on Jan. 13, the Lady Raiders tied the program record single-season win streak of 19 wins, which was set in the 1992-93 national championship season. Coincidentally, it is also the longest win streak in a single season in program history (Jan. 27, 1992 – April 4, 1993). The Lady Raiders began conference at 6-0, which is the best Big 12 start since 2000-01.
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Boasting three quad one wins on the season, Texas Tech accomplished its best start in program history at 19-0 while also checking into the national rankings for the first time since 2012. Tech defeated No. 15-ranked Baylor in Waco on Dec. 21, 2025, snapping a 31-game Baylor winning streak dating back to 2011. It was also Tech's first win at Baylor since Feb. 8, 2004 and first top-15 win since 2022. The Lady Raiders defeated Arizona, 80-49, on Jan. 3, 2026, their biggest win margin in a regular-season conference game since Jan. 15, 2005.
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Tech also posted its first win in Morgantown since Jan. 14, 2015 and only the third time in program history winning in Mountaineer territory. In addition, the Lady Raiders earned their first win in program history over Cincinnati, a team Tech was previously 0-3 all-time against. With their wins at West Virginia and at Cincinnati, the Lady Raiders posted back-to-back road conference wins for the first time since 2004-05. On Feb. 1, Texas Tech earned its first win in February since 2023, taking down its second top-15 opponent in No. 12 TCU by a 62-60 score.
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With the victory against Kansas on Feb. 10, Coach Gerlich earned her 100th career win at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Coach Gerlich now totals 389 career wins in her head coaching career. She is one victory away from tying her win total as a player for Texas Tech (1989-93), when she tallied 101 over her four-year playing career under legendary head coach Marsha Sharp. Texas Tech was picked 13th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 Preseason Poll and are poised to finish as one of the top teams in the conference with four more regular-season games left.
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Full Watch List:
| Geno Auriemma | UCONN | BIG EAST |
| Jennie Baranczyk | Oklahoma | SEC |
| Kim Barnes Arico | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Carla Berube | Princeton | Ivy |
| Cori Close | UCLA | Big Ten |
| Krista Gerlich | Texas Tech | Big 12 |
| Jan Jensen | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Kara Lawson | Duke | ACC |
| Kevin McGuff | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Kim Mulkey | LSU | SEC |
| Shea Ralph | Vanderbilt | SEC |
| Tammi Reiss | Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 |
| Vic Schaefer | Texas | SEC |
| Dawn Staley | South Carolina | SEC |
| Jeff Walz | Louisville | ACC |
Coach Gerlich Media Availability
Tuesday, February 17
Postgame Press Conference at Oklahoma State
Saturday, February 14
Highlights at Oklahoma State
Saturday, February 14
Coach Gerlich Media Availability
Friday, February 13