 Briles left Stephenville after the 1999 season to join Mike Leach's staff at Texas Tech.While serving as running backs coach, Briles improved Texas Tech's rushing average every year from 66.4 yards a game in his first year to 99.6 yards a game in 2002.He also coached all-conference backs and later NFL players Ricky A. Williams, Shaud Williams, and Taurean Henderson.