Mike Leach is turning Pullman into Lubbock Northwest in more than just scheme.
Upon his arrival in 2012, Leach employed former Texas Tech wide receiver Eric Morris and wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons to coach the Cougars wideouts. Morris left a year later for the South Plains, and Simmons was hired earlier this month at Oklahoma. So what’d Leach do? Backfill from his roster of former Red Raiders, of course.
Leach promoted former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell from an offensive analyst role to inside receivers coach a week ago, and now he’s filled that spot by hiring former Red Raiders wide receiver Joel Filani as an offensive quality control assistant, which was announced Wednesday.
Filani caught 175 career passes for 2,626 yards and 23 touchdowns, snagging passes from current TCU co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Sonny Cumbie and his new co-worker, Harrell. He earned All-Big 12 honors in 2005 and 2006.
A sixth-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, Filani spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had spent the past two years as a graduate assistant at Boise State before his appointment in Pullman.