Clay McGuire begins his second season on Head Coach Jake Dickert’s staff, having been named the Cougars’ offensive line coach Jan. 3, 2022. McGuire is no stranger to Pullman, having serviced in a similar role on Mike Leach’s staff from 2012-17.
Duirng the 2022 season, McGuire mentored a young offensive line that helped WSU produce 360.7 yards of total offense while finishing third in the Pac-12 in both pass attempts and completions. Left tackle Jarrett Kingston earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and the offensive line blocked for All-Pac-12 honorable mention running back Nakia Watson who scored 13 total touchdowns and four 100-yard games.
McGuire returned to Pullman after spending the 2021 season as the offensive line coach at USC. In 2021, the Trojans led the Pac-12 in total offense at 443.9 yards per game, was first in passing offense at 298.3 ypg, and was first in both pass attempts and completions. The Trojan offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks in the conference during the 2021 season.
He arrived at USC after coaching the offensive line at Texas State in 2019 and 2020. Bobcats left tackle Dalton Cooper was a 2020 Freshman All-American second teamer.
McGuire was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Texas Tech, his alma mater, in 2018, working under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Red Raiders ranked in the national Top 16 in both total offense (485.2) and points (37.3).
This marks McGuire’s second stint as the Cougars offensive line coach, having worked previously on Mike Leach's staff from 2012-17. During that time, he recruited and mentored such notable Cougars as two-time (2016-17) All-American first-teamer Cody O'Connell, also an Outland Trophy finalist in 2016, 2015 All-Pac-12 first team pick Joe Dahl, who spent five seasons with the Detroit Lions, Cole Madison, two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, current Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Andre Dillard, and four-time All-Pac-12 Conference selection Abe Lucas. The Cougars finished among the nation’s top 10 teams in passing offense throughout McGuire’s tenure and played in 4 bowl games (2013 New Mexico, 2015 Sun, 2016 and 2017 Holiday).
The 2017 Cougar offensive line, led by consensus All-American Cody O’Connell and 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard, helped the WSU offense post 5,653 yards of total offense, eighth all-time in school history. WSU reached it’s third-straight bowl game with a second-consecutive appearance at the Holiday Bowl.
In 2016, the Cougar offensive line blocked for an offense that finished third in the nation in passing, 18th in total offense, and rushed for 120.0 ypg, up 40 ypg from 2015. The line was led by unanimous All-American Cody O’Connell, who became just the second unanimous All-American in WSU history and was an Outland Trophy finalist.
In 2015 the Cougar offense again led the nation in passing at 389.5 ypg, the second-highest mark in Pac-12 history. The offensive line also bolstered the WSU running game as the Cougars rushed for 80.0 ypg in 2015, more than double the output from 2014. Senior Joe Dahl was named a Second-Team All-American by USA Today and was a First-Team All-Pac-12 selection.
In 2014 the Cougar offensive line paved the way as WSU led the nation in passing at 477.7 yards per game, setting a Pac-12 record as well. The WSU offense also set 10 school single-season records, including total offense, first downs and yards per game. The offensive line was playing with three players seeing their first significant college action while junior offensive lineman Joe Dahl received All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
McGuire saw the offensive line make huge strides in 2013 from the season prior, doubling the yards-per-carry average, nearly doubling the total rushing yardage and nearly cutting the number of sacks allowed in half. The WSU offense finished with the fourth-best passing attack in the country, setting Pac-12 single-season records for completions, pass attempts and WSU single-season records for passing yards and total yards.
McGuire was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at East Carolina in 2010 and 2011, working alongside offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. The Pirates were in the 2010 Liberty Bowl.
Prior to East Carolina, McGuire enjoyed a total of nine bowl appearances as a player and staff member at his alma mater, Texas Tech, before his move to East Carolina.
He had spent four seasons on the Texas Tech staff, but the 2009 campaign however, marked his first heading the running backs corps - a position he lettered in for four years. His move to the backfield followed service as special teams coordinator in 2008, an offensive graduate assistant in 2007 and a video intern in 2006.
McGuire’s three primary running backs, which included two freshmen, all averaged over 5.0 yards a carry in 2009. Junior Baron Batch was Texas Tech’s offensive MVP after racking up a team-high 1,279 all-purpose yards - 884 on the ground, 395 receiving - and 15 touchdowns. He assumed the special teams coordinator role early in 2007 on an interim basis, after McNeill moved over to the defensive coordinator position before the fifth game.
The special teams units responded to McGuire immediately when he took over in 2007 as the punt team thwarted any attempt at return opportunities for the opposition. Tech opponents averaged a mere 6.7 yards per return and returned only 18 of 30 punts. The kickoff coverage unit was also second in the Big 12.
McGuire appeared in 45 games at the H-Back position for the Red Raiders during the course of four seasons from 2000 to 2004. A big, physical player, he was noted for his effectiveness as a blocker in Tech’s offense, and also factored into the passing game, catching 32 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns during his career.
McGuire earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Tech in 2004 before following with a master’s in secondary education in 2007.
McGuire, a native of Crane, Texas, and his wife, Jeri, are the parents of two daughters - Jorja and Addison.
