Kliff Kingsbury represents the best of both worlds on the college scene. Not only is he one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and the most prolific passer in Texas Tech history, he is also one of the top scholar-athletes.
A Business Management major, Kingsbury is a two-time Academic All-BIG 12 Conference First Team selection and was named to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-District Team. A four-time Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll member, he completed his undergraduate requirements in only three years.
A 2002 Heisman Trophy Candidate, few have etched their name in their alma mater's record books as often as Kingsbury. The owner of 33 Red Raiders passing and total offense records and nine conference records, he earned All-Conference Second Team honors in 2001. Through eight games in the 2002 season, Kingsbury leads the nation in completions (286), passing yards (2,916) and touchdown passes (28) and has been named Conference Player of the Week three times. To date, Kingsbury has made 1,038 completions for 10,328 yards and 78 touchdowns in his career.
A member of the Texas Tech Speakers Bureau, Kingsbury makes numerous speaking engagements at local area schools and organizations. He was selected in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and appeared on the rosters of the Patriots, the New Orleans Saints, the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. Kingsbury also played one season with the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
In 2008, Kingsbury joined the University of Houston coaching staff in a quality control position. With the departure of offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. As the primary play-caller in 2011, Kingsbury was named the Offensive Coordinator of the Year after the Cougars led the NCAA in yards, points and virtually every offensive category.
Kingsbury followed Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin to Texas A&M in 2012, where he served as the offensive coordinator for Johnny Manziel's Heisman Trophy-winning season. The Aggies led the SEC in rushing, passing, total offense and scoring offense, and were the nation’s only offense ranked in the top-15 of the NCAA in all four categories. Kingsbury was named the 2012 Footballscoop.com Offensive Coordinator of the Year and was named a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.
Following the 2012 season, Kingsbury returned to his alma mater to become the Red Raiders' head coach. In 2013, he became just the fourth Texas Tech coach to start a season 7-0. The Red Raiders finished 8-5 after a 37-23 win over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. In 2014, despite finishing 4-8, Texas Tech sold out their season tickets for the first time since 1925.
