Texas Tech announced Thursday morning the hiring of another familiar face to fill its open coaching position as former Red Raider standout receiver Joel Filani is the new outside receivers coach. Filani was a two-time All-Big 12 receiver at Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era, is 10th on the Red Raider career receiving yards list with 2,667 and sixth on the career touchdown receptions list with 23. He replaces Jovon Bouknight who is joining the Oregon coaching staff.

Much love for @SethLittrell & @MeanGreenFB for the guidance & opportunity to be a part of the Mean Green fam. We loved it here! Met some phenomenal people & are forever grateful. Thank you so much! #BitterSweet #WellMissYall #GMG — Joel Filani (@CoachFilaUNT) February 14, 2019

Filani returns to Texas Tech after three seasons at North Texas under former Texas Tech assistant coach Seth Littrell. During his three seasons as outside receivers coach the Mean Green produced 2018 first team All-Conference USA receiver Rico Bussey and 2017 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and second team All-Conference USA receiver Jalen Guyton. North Texas also signed the following notable receivers in the three full recruiting cycles he was apart of:

2017

-- Jalen Guyton, Allen HS-Trinity Valley CC, three-star prospect, No. 59 JUCO overall, No. 3 JUCO WR

-- Tre Siggers, Duncanville HS, three-star prospect, No. 218 WR, No. 214 overall in TX

-- Jaelon Darden, Houston Bellaire HS, three-star prospect, No. 239 WR, No. 235 overall in TX

-- Gregory White, Riverdale (GA) HS, three-star prospect, No. 297 WR, No. 223 overall in GA

2018

-- Austin Ogunmakin, Alief Hastings HS, three-star prospect, No. 292 WR, No. 293 overall in TX

2019

-- Deonte Simpson, Beaumont West Brook HS, three-star prospect, No. 125 WR, No. 123 overall in TX

-- Khatib Lyles, El Paso Parkland HS, three-star prospect, No. 180 WR, No. 200 overall in TX

-- Kealon Jackson, Pearland Shadow Creek HS, No. 188 WR, No. 204 overall in TX

-- Damon Ward, Beaumont West Brook, three-star prospect, No. 189 WR, No. 205 overall in TX

Prior to his time at UNT, Filani spent one season at Washington State in an offensive quality control position under Leach, his former coach at Tech. Also on the Cougars' coaching staff in 2015 was current Texas Tech offensive coordinator David Yost, who coached inside receivers at Washington State from 2013-15. It's this connection which figures to be as integral as Filani's playing career for his return to the South Plains. Yost has made it clear it's important he knows and trusts who he's working with on the offensive staff.

"Coach Wells, in this profession, how I look at things, it's who you work for and who you work with. I trust him. I believe in him. I know what I'm getting every day with him. That's a big deal when you make a decision that you're going to move your family, do those things, and when you're going to work for a guy," said Yost when asked about his decision to join Matt Wells at Texas Tech. "It's what you know about him and who he's going to be. How's he going to be on a Tuesday, Game 6, when you didn't play very well on offense? I know what I'm gonna get from him. Then the guys he's gonna let me put around us is a big deal, because I want to work with guys that I like, I care about, that are part of my family. We spend so much time together, it's a big deal and he was all in on that. That was kind of my thoughts and we were kind of on the same page there so it's going to be a lot of fun and can't wait to get it started."

Filani got his collegiate coaching start as a graduate assistant at Boise State in 2013-14. The Phoenix, Ariz. native earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Texas Tech in 2006 before gaining his master's degree in educational leadership from Boise State in 2014.

Selected in the sixth round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2007 NFL Draft, Filani was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2007-09 before playing the 2011 season for the Chicago Rush in the Arena League.