Mike Leach, Wes Kittley make Texas Sports Hall of Fame ballot
Texas Tech track and field coach Wes Kittley and the late former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach are on the ballot for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame's class of 2024.
Both are on the primary ballot of 20 candidates, from which six typically are selected. There is a separate ballot of 12 veterans candidates, from which two are usually selected, for sports figures at least 20 years removed from competition.
Kittley coached from 1985 through 1999 at Abilene Christian University, where his teams won 29 national championships. He is in his 24th season at Texas Tech, where he coached the men's team to eight Big 12 championships and the national championship in 2019. The Tech men are ranked No. 2 and the Tech women No. 16 going into the NCAA championships that start Wednesday in Austin.
Leach was 158-107 in 21 seasons as head coach at Texas Tech (2000-09), Washington State (2012-19) and Mississippi State (2020-22). He died Dec. 12 at age 61.
Another nominee on the veterans ballot is Richard Ritchie, who was a 39-0 as a starting quarterback on three national championship teams from 1974-76 at the then-Texas A&I. Ritchie was the Texas Tech quarterbacks coach from 1981-83. He died May 11 at age 68.
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame selection committee, which includes about two dozen media members, met Tuesday to formulate the ballot for this coming year's class.
Voting is conducted from July 17 to Aug. 17. The voting ballot will be emailed to Texas Sports Hall of Fame members, board members, the selection committee and current Hall of Famers. Fans can cast a ballot by becoming part of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame voting membership. Annual memberships start at $25 with more information available at tshof.org.
The 2024 class will be announced in the fall, and the induction banquet is scheduled for April 13 in Waco.
TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2024 BALLOT
Primary ballot: Randy Allen, football; Jose Altuve, baseball; Tim Buchanan, football; Jamaal Charles, football; Phil Danaher, football; Todd Dodge, football; Juan Gonzalez, baseball; Brittney Griner, basketball; Jon Kay, football; Wes Kittley, track and field; Mike Leach, football; Colt McCoy, football; Hal Mumme, football; Carla Overbeck, soccer; Arthur Rhodes, baseball; Jackie Sherrill, football; Leon "Red" Spencer, basketball; Matthew Stafford, football; Bubba Thornton, track and field; Christa Williams, softball.
Veterans ballot: Jay Buhner, baseball; Kirk Dressendorfer, baseball; Cito Gaston, baseball; Chris Gilbert, football; Roy Hofheinz, administration; Barbara Jacket, track and field; Charmayne James, rodeo; Fred Newhouse, track and field; Billy Nicks, football; Richard Ritchie, football; Ira Terrell, basketball; Wilson Whitley, football.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Mike Leach, Wes Kittley make Texas Sports Hall of Fame ballot
