Are Two Texas Tech Coaches on Their Way Out the Door?

An unofficial report came out over the weekend that states Texas Tech co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Mike Smith and defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis will not return for the 2016-2017 season.

Recruiting site redraidersports.com first broke the news.

Texas Tech commit and current Amarillo defensive tackle Ivory Jackson says the two coaches were informed earlier in the week that they would not be returning with the program.

"They were calling all of the recruits to let us know and they told us that coach [David Gibbs] puts players in the NFL and just encouraged me," Jackson said [quote via Dallas Morning News]. "I plan to stay in touch with them, it was really shocking."

"They both called me on Sunday after church and let me know that the decision had been made a few days ago and they were making it official" Jackson said. "I was really surprised because I was so close to the both of them."

Demarcus Fields, a Taylor defensive back, told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that he was informed Sunday of the coaching changes. Keller defensive end Houston Miller told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that defensive coordinator David Gibbs spoke with him Sunday to keep him in the loop.

“I was scheduled to have an in-home visit on Friday with Mike Smith, but that changed,” Miller said. “I spoke to coach David Gibbs on Sunday, who was just trying to keeping me in the loop on a couple of things.

Smith and Curtis each joined coach Kliff Kingsbury's staff per arrival three seasons ago. Both also played at Texas Tech as student-athletes. Smith served as interim defensive coordinator for nine games of the Red Raiders' 2014 season.

According to a previous report, both Smith and Curtis signed one-year deals with Texas Tech for the 2015 season.

More information will come out when Texas Tech makes the news official.

[Sources: Dallas Morning News and Lubbock Avalanche Journal]