Tech AD Kirby Hocutt interviews Clemson OC Chad Morris

The search for Texas Tech's next head football coach gained some momentum Tuesday as Tech athletic director left Lubbock to interview Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

Hocutt was met by Greg Wallace, the Anderson Independent-Mail's Clemson beat reporter, at the Anderson, S.C., airport, where he was asked about his plans and confirmed his intention to speak with Morris.

"Hocutt says he'd like to finish search as soon as possible but will take time to make the right decision," Wallace tweeted.

According to the Independent-Mail, Morris is the highest-paid coordinator in the country, earning $1.3 million per year. Morris 

Morris' name has been in the Tech coaching vacancy discussion since the beginning, along with Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Morris helped quarterback Tajh Boyd earn ACC Player of the Year honors Dec. 5. 

Boyd completed 251 of 377 passes for 3,550 yards and 34 touchdowns. Boyd completed 66.6 percent of his passes and finished the season with a quarterback rating of 168.5 with Morris calling the shots.

Kingsbury, a Tech quarterback from 1998 to 2002, played an integral role in the development of redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, who ended the regular season with 4,600 total yards. Manziel, subsequently, became the first freshman to win the
Heisman Trophy.

Under Kingsbury's guidance, the Aggies averaged 552.3 yards of offense per game — No. 3 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. 

According to a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal source, Hocutt also stopped in Houston to talk to the 33-year old Kingsbury.