ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd nˈaɪn, kˈʌmbi bɪɡˈæn hɪz kˈoʊtʃɪŋ kɚɹˈɪɹ æt tˈɛksəs tˈɛk æz ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət ɐsˈɪstənt ˌʌndɚ hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃ mˈaɪk lˈiːtʃ wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz ɪn tʃˈɑːɹdʒ ʌvðə dᵻfˈɛnsɪv skˈaʊt tˈiːm ænd kˈoʊtʃɪŋ ðə kwˈɔːɹɾɚbˌæks.
In 2009, Cumbie began his coaching career at Texas Tech as a graduate assistant under head coach Mike Leach where he was in charge of the defensive scout team and coaching the quarterbacks.