Lost amid the hullabaloo associated with Washington State’s hiring of former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is the fact that one of Leach’s former Tech players was already at WSU.
How long Matt Goetz stays at WSU remains to be seen.
Goetz, who started at center for Washington State the last nine games of the season, redshirted at Texas Tech as a freshman in 2009. He was gone by midseason for reasons that have never been made clear.
“I’ll talk with him,” Leach said. “We’ll see where we are after we talk.”
Goetz, who grew up near San Antonio, was reportedly the first player to sign a national letter of intent with Texas Tech in 2009. The Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal reported in mid-October 2009 that Goetz was no longer on the team.
Asked at the time whether it was Goetz’s decision to leave the Red Raiders, Leach said, “I don’t know about his, but definitely by mine.” Leach did not elaborate then, nor this week.
“I really don’t want to get into it,” Leach said. “I think he’s turned the page, and I’d like that to be the case.”
That was one of several Leach comments that would seem to indicate the coach is willing to give Goetz a second chance.
“He’s courageous and tough,” Leach said. “I never had a problem with him on the field at all.”
Leach, who has spent only a few hours in Pullman since his hiring was announced Nov. 30, said he did not have time to sit down with Goetz on Wednesday, when he met with the team, held a press conference and was required to perform various other tasks.
“That was a whirlwind,” Leach said. “There were a bunch of people I wish I could have talked to.
“He’s done some good things, had a good year. I certainly wish him the best.
“We’ll see what we can sort out. I don’t have any problem with him personally at all.”
Leach is due back in Pullman on Sunday. Multiple attempts to reach Goetz have been unsuccessful.
Scout.com rated Goetz the No. 55 college offensive guard prospect among 2008 high school seniors. Goetz was a backup guard at the start of this season at WSU.
In 2010, Goetz saw action at guard and center on the national junior college champions of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
ASSISTANTS LINING UP
Three men with strong ties to Mike Leach resigned Friday at East Carolina, and a Pirates spokesperson said he expects all three to wind up at Washington State.
As reported Thursday, Clay McGuire is expected to become WSU’s offensive line coach, and Dennis Simmons is expected to serve as WSU’s outside receivers coach.
A East Carolina spokesperson said Pirates director of football operations, Antonio Huffman, who resigned Thursday, definitely is coming to Washington State in a noncoaching role in the football office.
McGuire played and coached for Leach at Texas Tech. Huffman played for Leach at Tech before moving into the football office. Simmons worked in Tech’s football office for Leach before he became an assistant coach under Leach.
Leach said Thursday that he will not name any assistant coaches until next week.
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