Familiar Faces: Longtime Friends Hodge and McCasland Meet as Opposing Coaches

West Virginia's Ross Hodge and Texas Tech's Grant McCasland reunite on the sidelines after years of coaching together.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 7:55pm

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West Virginia men's basketball coach Ross Hodge and Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland have a long history together, having worked side-by-side at Arkansas State and North Texas before McCasland took the Texas Tech job in 2023. Now the two friends meet as opposing coaches when No. 13 Texas Tech visits Morgantown to take on West Virginia on Sunday.

Why it matters

The matchup between Hodge and McCasland's teams is an intriguing one, as the two coaches have very different philosophies - Hodge emphasizes tough, gritty defense while McCasland's Red Raiders are known for their high-powered offense. The game will showcase the contrasting styles the two coaches have developed over their careers.

The details

Hodge and McCasland first worked together at Arkansas State, then built something special at North Texas, where Hodge's defensive mentality complemented McCasland's offensive approach. Now, Hodge will try to slow down McCasland's high-scoring Texas Tech squad, which features the returning Big 12 Player of the Year in forward J.T. Toppin and a conference-leading passer in point guard Christian Anderson.

  • The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, 2026.
  • Hodge took over the North Texas program after McCasland left to become the head coach at Texas Tech in 2023.

The players

Ross Hodge

The head coach of the West Virginia men's basketball team, known for his emphasis on tough, gritty defense.

Grant McCasland

The head coach of the Texas Tech men's basketball team, who previously worked alongside Hodge at Arkansas State and North Texas.

J.T. Toppin

The returning Big 12 Player of the Year, who plays forward for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Christian Anderson

The Texas Tech point guard who leads the Big 12 in assists and also averages 19 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“My favorite quote of his, anytime we had a lead, was, 'We've got enough points to win, so they don't have to score another basket.' That mentality is pretty wild. Scoring is obviously important, but he actually thinks about what if you can just hold someone without scoring for 10 minutes. I just think that's him. That's his grit. That's his fight. That's who he is as a person and I love that about him.”

— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach

“I love what he's doing with their team. They're finding ways to win close games, and they've been in a lot of them. Winning on the road at Cincinnati says a lot about how tough they are. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go and compete, and we're going to have to play our best.”

— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.