LUBBOCK — They couldn't be more different in their style, public persona or demeanor. Kliff Kingsbury is a huge Spurs fan and has been one since growing up in New Braunfels during the David Robinson era. The Texas Tech football coach says he learns something each time he watches his favorite team play. He considers Gregg Popovich as a coaching role model. “I watch the Spurs quite a bit, and Coach Pop just fascinates me,” Kingsbury said. “They had some guy named (Patty) Mills who popped up and scored 26 points the other night.

“Coach Popovich is able to develop things like that all of the time. They just win, and it's incredible. He stays undercover and never gets the love he probably deserves. He doesn't want it. He just wins.”

Kingsbury's study of Popovich exhibits a maturation in his approach to his craft in his second season on the job at Tech.

Sure, his name still pops up as a “Jeopardy” answer, and his “Stanky Legg” dance at Tech's final spring practice went viral.

But Kingsbury is growing into his job as he watches the actions of veteran coaches.

“The second year has been a lot smoother,” Kingsbury said. “I don't have it figured out by a long shot, but I have a better feel for what we're trying to accomplish and what I need to do every day.”

He still arrives for work at 4 a.m. each day and manages to squeeze in a couple of workouts before he returns home each night. That doesn't leave much time for the high-flying lifestyle one might expect from a 34-year-old bachelor with a $2.05 million yearly contract.

“Right now, I'm addicted to 'Breaking Bad,'” Kingsbury said of the popular TV show. “I never watched it when it was on, and I try to watch about three or four episodes a night.

“I'm going to be depressed when it runs out. I'm hooked.”

Any escapades Walter White overcame in that series weren't that far removed from Kingsbury's roller-coaster first season with the Red Raiders.

Kingsbury juggled three young quarterbacks — sophomore Michael Brewer and true freshmen Davis Webb and Baker Mayfield — during a wild season that began with a seven-game winning streak and ended with a five-game losing streak.

The 7-0 Red Raiders were ranked 10th in the first BCS poll before the strength of the Big 12 caught up with them.

The late-season collapse was compounded when Brewer and Mayfield abruptly transferred before Tech played Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl, leaving Webb as the team's only experienced quarterback.

Webb responded with 403 yards passing and a career-best four touchdowns in a 37-23 upset that ended the season on a high note for the Red Raiders.

Players credited a decision Kingsbury made as a key factor in that victory. Instead of letting players return home for a few days before the bowl trip, he kept them in Lubbock where they practiced before heading to San Diego.

“It just brought the group closer together,” senior wide receiver Bradley Marquez said. “Everybody was gone, and we were hearing about people back home with their families for the holidays. It was a little frustrating for some of the guys in the beginning, but we bonded and really prepared for the bowl game.”

Kingsbury said he could detect his team's transformation after only a few days of practice.

“We stayed here the entire month and practiced, so they were invested,” he said. “They listened to other teams' schedules and others that they got some days off. I know it developed a chip on their shoulder and once we got to San Diego, they wanted to put on a show.”

That victory has given the Red Raiders momentum heading into next season.

It also carried over into recruiting.

Kingsbury replenished his depth at QB with the signing of Patrick Mahomes of Whitehouse. He also landed huge early commitments from four-star Class of 2015 recruits in quarterback Jarrett Stidham of Stephenville and 290-pound defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko of Honolulu.

Two areas of special interest this spring for Kingsbury and the Red Raiders were reducing penalties and turnovers from last season.

Tech was 122nd in the nation in penalty yardage, 121st in turnover margin and 119th in turnovers in 2013.

Tech showed some progress during the spring as Webb passed for 13 touchdowns and no interceptions during his final three scrimmages. The penalties remain a work in progress after the Red Raiders were flagged for 73 yards in the spring game.

Kingsbury is determined not to change his message as he attempts to correct those deficiencies and build for the fall.

“The biggest thing is you have to find ways to stay consistent,” Kingsbury said. “That was the hardest thing for me last year, especially with the way our season went. I'm trying to do that more this year, make sure the team and the coaches can feel that consistency from me in everything we're doing.”

tgriffin@express-news.net

Twitter: @TimGriffinBig12