McGuire a triple-threat coaching hire

MIKE LEACH may have landed three for the price of one in Clay McGuire, who is believed headed to Washington State to join Leach’s coaching staff. McGuire is a triple-threat, with experience coaching running backs and special teams, and a reputation as a top-flight recruiter.

McGuire, 29, comes to WSU from East Carolina, where he coached the last two seasons under Ruffin McNeill, who also is a Leach disciple.

McGuire played H-back for Leach at Texas Tech and later served as a graduate assistant and then assistant coach in charge of special teams for the Red Raiders before moving on to ECU with McNeill.

Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports reported this morning that McGuire and former UCLA and Nevada running backs and tight ends coach Jim Mastro, 45, were heading to WSU with Leach. Mastro spent this past season at UCLA after 11 at Nevada, where he was instrumental in introducing the WolfPacks’ highly successful “pistol” offense.

As for McGuire, Feldman said Leach once dubbed him the best recruiter he ever had Texas Tech. As a player and coach, McGuire’s run with the Red Raiders was special -- nine bowl appearances. He appeared in 45 games with the Red Raiders from 2000-04 and earned Big 12 All-Academic honors. From there, he became a video intern, then graduate assistant, and then assistant. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degree from Tech.

McGuire and Mastro would be the third- and fourth known assistants to join Leach at WSU. David Emerick, a recruiting coordinator and “chief of staff” with Leach at Tech and most recently at Arizona with Mike Stoops, was in Pullman with Leach for Tuesday’s festivities. Eric Russell, an Idaho native, former Leach assistant, and special teams and tight ends coach at Tennessee the last two seasons, is also believed to be coming to the Palouse.