Texas Tech's Kingsbury to return in 2017

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt said Sunday that head coach Kliff Kingsbury will return in 2017.

"I believed in Kliff Kingsbury when I hired him in December 2012, and I believe in Kliff Kingsbury today," Hocutt said at a press conference.

Rumblings of discontent with Kingsbury grew toward the end of the season as the Red Raiders' defense reached new levels of ineptitude and the offense struggled trying to compensate for it.

Texas Tech wrapped up the season with a 5-7 record and is set to miss out on a bowl game for the second time in Kingsbury's four years at the helm. Overall, the Red Raiders have gone 24-26 with their former quarterback at the helm, and they've posted a 16-21 mark over the last three seasons.

"I'm confident that there are much better days ahead for Texas Tech football," Hocutt said, though.

The athletic director also noted he expects defensive coordinator David Gibbs to return next season, despite the fact that the unit ranked dead last in the FBS in 2016.