Jeff Kidder, who spent last season as an assistant coach for the Texas Tech men’s basketball team, is leaving coach Billy Gillispie’s staff to become the head coach at Taylor County High School in Campbellsville, Ky. Kidder said the decision was “very difficult” due to his close relationship with Gillispie, but he is making the switch to be closer to his aging parents, who live about 40 minutes from Campbellsville, and to spend more time with his wife and two young children.

Former Texas Tech basketball assistant Chris Beard on Monday was named the new head coach at McMurry after he backed out of a job he’d accepted last week at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. At McMurry, Beard replaces J.D. Isler, who resigned last week after one season. Isler, a former Lubbock Christian University player, said he needed to be available and closer for his parents who live in New Mexico. McMurry went 20-9 last season. The War Hawks are moving from NCAA Division III, a non-scholarship level, to a provisional member of NCAA Division II next season.

Two more players are set to transfer from the Texas Tech basketball program. Guards Terran Petteway and DeShon Minnis had their names added to CBSSports.com's list of nationwide transfers over the weekend, and the Avalanche-Journal has learned that both players are taking visits to other schools this week. Minnis was set to visit Providence this week and reportedly has a visit set up with Rhode Island, as well. Minnis, who averaged 3.1 points per game as a freshman, is from the Philadelphia area.

Texas Tech has completed its 2012 recruiting class by adding Houston Wheatley point guard Josh Gray, who confirmed the signing in a text message Tuesday. Gray is the ninth member of Tech coach Billy Gillispie’s first full recruiting class, which is heavy on perimeter talent. “It feels great,” Gray said via text of making his decision, “especially to be a Red Raider. My family and I feel like we made the right decision.”