By james art 
Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire previews the Big 12 game at TCU
Texas Tech football is coming off a 59-35 loss at home to Baylor. The Red Raiders play at TCU this week.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes is very familiar with Texas Tech football.
Sonny Dykes, the 2022 national championship runner-up, is the son of former Red Raiders coach Spike Dykes, who coached Lubbock from 1986-99. Spike Dykes, the Red Raiders’ longest-tenured coach, is one of the most successful coaches in Texas Tech history, finishing his career with 82 victories to rank second in program history behind only Mike Leach.
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Sonny Dykes was also an offensive assistant at Texas Tech under Leach from 2000-06. He’s looking for his second win in three seasons at TCU against his father’s former school on Saturday when the Red Raiders travel to face the Horned Frogs.
Spike Dykes is one of the most influential coaches in Texas football history, coaching high school at multiple schools from 1959-1971 before serving as an assistant coach at Texas, New Mexico and Mississippi in the 1970s. He then returned to high school to be the head coach at Midland Lee High School before being hired as Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator in 1984.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sonny Dykes and Spike Dykes and their connection to Texas Tech:
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Are Sonny Dykes and Spike Dykes Related?
Yes, Sonny Dykes and Spike Dykes are related. Spike Dykes is the father of Sonny Dykes.
Both college football coaches have been heavily involved with the state of Texas. They coached at Texas Tech, with Sonny Dykes serving as receivers coach from 2000-04 before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator from 2005-06.
Spike Dykes, meanwhile, was the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech from 1984-86 before being promoted to interim coach before the Independence Bowl against Ole Miss in 1986. He remained the head coach from 1986-99.
Is Sonny Dykes the coach at Texas Tech?
Yes, Sonny Dykes spent several seasons as an offensive assistant for the Red Raiders under Leach. Sonny Dykes was receivers coach from 2000-04 before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach from 2005-06. He left the program to become Arizona’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2007- 08 before taking his first head coaching position at Louisiana Tech in 2010.
Spike Dykes’ coaching record
Here is Spike Dykes’ coaching record, including his year-by-year success at Texas Tech:
Conference transcript in parentheses
- Coaching record: 82-67-1
- 1986 (interim): 0-1
- 1987: 6-4-1 (3-3-1)
- 1988: 5-6 (4-3)
- 1989: 9-3 (5-3)
- 1990: 4-7 (3-5)
- 1991: 6-5 (5-3)
- 1992: 5-6 (4-3)
- 1993: 6-6 (5-2)
- 1994: 6-6 (4-3)
- 1995: 9-3 (5-2)
- 1996: 7-5 (5-3)
- 1997: 6-5 (5-3)
- 1998: 7-5 (4-4)
- 1999: 6-5 (5-3)
Sonny Dykes Coaching Record
Here is Sonny Dykes’ all-time coaching record, including his year-by-year results:
- Coaching record: 93-75
- 2010 (Louisiana Tech): 5-7 (4-5)
- 2011 (Louisiana Tech): 8-5 (6-1)
- 2012 (Louisiana Tech): 9-3 (4-2)
- 2013 (Cal): 1-11 (0-9)
- 2014 (Cal): 5-7 (3-6)
- 2015 (Cal): 8-5 (4-5)
- 2016 (Cal): 5-7 (3-6)
- 2017 (Interim SMU): 0-1
- 2018 (SMU): 5-7 (4-4)
- 2019 (SMU): 10-3 (6-2)
- 2020 (SMU): 7-3 (4-3)
- 2021 (SMU): 8-4 (4-4)
- 2022 (TCU): 13-2 (9-0)
- 2023 (TCU): 5-7 (3-6)
- 2024 (TCU): 4-3 (2-2)*
* Through seven games