About TTU Chess
The Texas Tech Chess Program combines competitive collegiate chess, student development and community engagement. Since its establishment in 2007, the program has represented Texas Tech in national and international competition while creating opportunities for students to learn, compete and grow through chess.
Mission & Goals
The Texas Tech Chess Program promotes chess as a tool for education, competition and personal development. The program works to recruit outstanding students, represent Texas Tech through collegiate competition and provide opportunities for chess participation on campus and in the community.
Student Development
Support the academic and personal growth of Texas Tech students while providing opportunities to develop their chess skills.
Competition
Represent Texas Tech University in collegiate chess competition at the national and international levels.
Education
Promote chess as an educational activity and provide opportunities for students to learn through chess-related programs and activities.
Community Engagement
Encourage chess participation in schools and the broader community through instruction, events and outreach programs.
Our History
Organized chess at Texas Tech traces its roots to 2003, when Associate Professor of Geosciences Hal Karlsson founded the Knight Raiders Chess Club to promote chess on campus and in the Lubbock community.
The Texas Tech Chess Program was formally developed in 2007 and quickly became a major presence in collegiate chess. Since then, Texas Tech teams and players have earned national, regional and state recognition while helping establish the university as one of the country's leading collegiate chess programs.
Program Highlights
- More than 10 national titles along with regional and state championships
- National Collegiate Team Championship titles in 2011 and 2012
- Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship titles in 2015 and 2019
- A perfect 6-0 performance at the 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship
- Named Chess College of the Year by the U.S. Chess Federation in 2014 and 2020
Professional Staff
Grandmaster Alex Onischuk
Head Coach & Program Director
Alex Onischuk became an international grandmaster at age 19 and has competed among the world's leading chess players. His career includes six Chess World Cup appearances, the 2006 U.S. Championship, six U.S. Olympiad teams and a gold medal at the 2013 Pan-American Continental Championship.
He is also an internationally recognized chess trainer and was inducted into the Chess Hall of Fame in 2018. Onischuk joined Texas Tech in 2012 and provides regular training to members of the university's chess teams. Under his leadership, Texas Tech won the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship in 2015 and 2019. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Dr. Jeff Day
Associate Director & eSports Coach
Dr. Jeff Day serves as Associate Director of the Texas Tech Chess Program. He earned a bachelor's degree in English, an MFA in directing and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts with an emphasis in theatre.
In 2019, he participated in the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive in Washington, D.C. He later began graduate studies in history at Texas Tech, with a research focus on World War II naval history. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Deborah Green
Business Manager
Deborah Green serves as Business Manager for the Texas Tech Chess Program. She joined the program in January 2025 after serving Texas Tech University in administrative roles since March 2012.
A Lubbock native, Green brings her university experience to the program with a focus on supporting students and helping them build skills for success at Texas Tech and beyond. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Contact TTU Chess
Texas Tech Chess Program
Drane Hall, Room 315
Box 45080
Lubbock, TX 79409-5080
Phone: 1 (806) 742-7742
Email: texastechchess@ttu.edu
TTU Chess
-
Address
Drane Hall, Room 315 Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080 -
Phone
806.742.7742 -
Email
texastechchess@ttu.edu