There is no question that Kirby Hocutt is one of the best collegiate administrators in the nation. While at Texas Tech, he has built one of the most successful athletic departments in the NCAA with five teams reaching the final eight in their respective sport last season. But no one is perfect.
The biggest, and perhaps only, scar on his resume is the fact that he has never hired a successful head football coach during his two decades as an AD. Granted, he has hired only two, Al Golden at Miami and Kliff Kingsbury. But both flamed out for different reasons, something that can’t happen with his third (and most critical) hire.