REMEMBERING MIKE LEACH (1961 - 2022)
Beloved college football coach Mike Leach passed away on Monday night from complications due to a heart condition. It is believed Leach suffered a heart attack and seizures. He was 61-years-old
Leach’s coaching career dates back to 1987 when he began as offensive line coordinator at Cal Poly over 500 miles south of his birthplace of Susanville, California.
While most coaches base their philosophies on their own playing careers, coach Leach, like every other area in his captivating life, sauntered down a different path. Leach wasn’t a collegiate football star at his alma-mater BYU. Instead, Leach, who earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies at Brigham Young, participated in rugby.
An early sign of how quirky and unorthodox the character that is Mike Leach would develop into. From a playing career where the ball could only go backwards few could have anticipated how Leach would influence such an aggressive and offensive style of play.
When people discuss Mike Leach’s legacy over the coming days, and indeed deep into the future as they undoubtedly will, two words will resurface from everyone’s lips. “Air raid”. This fast tempo style of offense tires out defences and generates larger percentages of deep, passing plays.
With such ferocious offenses during his post millennium head coaching career it’s difficult to comprehend the man on a rugby field or as a linebacker coach, both of which he did in his 20s.
In 1989 Leach headed across the Atlantic to serve as head coach for the Pori Bears in the American Football Association of Finland, furthering cementing that quirky persona of his, playing rugby and coaching Finnish football within just six years of each other.
Leach’s legacy took its greatest step in 1989 when he joined Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan University. As offensive coordinator he and Mumme developed the air raid offense that would later propel Leach’s career. Mumme and Leach moved on to Valdosta State in the early 90s, then to Kentucky in 1997.
In 1999 Leach finally departed Mumme’s coaching staff to join Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Under Leach’s role as offensive coordinator the Sooners jumped to the number one offense in the Big 12.
One year as OC at Oklahoma was enough for fellow Big 12 school Texas Tech to offer Leach his first head coaching role in the United States. The Red Raiders led the NCAA in passing yards for four consecutive years under Leach’s air raid offense. Over 150 NCAA, Big 12 and school records were broken during Leach’s tenure at Texas Tech, including by himself, as the winningest coach in Red Raiders history.
In 2008, after eight straight winning seasons (the most in school history since the 30s), Leach guided Texas Tech to 11-2, their greatest record since 1953. A win over number one ranked Texas that year in front of College Gameday, by virtue of a last second Michael Crabtree touchdown, raised Texas Tech to 2nd, their highest ever ranking to date.
After a bitter ending to his spell in Lubbock Mike Leach was relieved of his duties in 2009. After a spell away from coaching Leach returned to the sideline as Washington State Cougars head coach in 2012. The Cougs persevered with Leach’s rough start and in his fourth season (2015) finally a winning season, 9-4, and a first bowl win since 2003, v Miami in the Sun Bowl.
Wazzu then went 8-5 and 9-4 again, respectively, before the 2018 season.
2018 saw Washington State reach 11 wins, their most ever, and end the season 10th in the AP and coaches polls, joint 2nd highest in school history. ‘Minshew mania’ stole the show that year as gunslinging Cougs QB Gardner Minshew lead Leach’s side to an Alamo Bowl victory Iowa State.
What stands out most from that campaign, however, was Minshew and Leach’s bond after a huge road win in Colorado. As the ESPN cameras awaited another famous Leach sound bite Minshew embraced his coach before slapping a false moustache on the bemused Leach’s upper lip.
Leach was praised for his careful handling of Cougars football operations following the suicide of their backup quarterback Tyler Hilinski. Leach sought assistance from councillors about how to approach a return to football for his roster. In the end he encouraged those who felt ready to re-enter the field to do so, but offered support to those who required more headspace.
Leach’s coaching style echoed his personality. He was must see tv.
Even in defeat Leach saw the lighter side of things. While he was serious about football, school traditions and player development he could switch from animated head coach to lowkey stand up comedian at the flick of a switch.
Throughout his spell on the sidelines coach Leach has been a content conveyer-belt for media outlets and journalists nation wide. His cooky takes and witty remarks have eased tensions in press conferences for decades. Leach was the gift that kept on giving. For offense minded players, media sources and loved ones.
Social media and sports broadcasters will begin sharing tales and quotes from Leach in the coming days. Some of which are thought provoking, some purely baffling to the human brain.
“It would be fun if there’s Bigfoot. I hope there’s Bigfoot. But my guess would be there’s not”. One of Leach’s famous, nonsensical, yet truly hilarious press conference quotes.
Another press conference of his, in his Washington State days, saw Leach debate which of the PAC-12 mascots would put up the best fight in a mass brawl, with his best slant on the Oregon representative: “The Duck might lose interest and just fly away and get out of there, which may be good advice under the circumstances”.
But unequivocally a favourite of Leach’s was the history of pirates. Along with college football reporter Bruce Feldman, Mike Leach shared some intellect in his book Swing Your Sword, reportedly entitled after a saying he would emphasise to his players, encouraging them to emulate the teamwork of pirates.
Mike Leach took over as Mississippi State head coach in January 2020 and despite a 3-7 SEC record in his maiden campaign he led the Bulldogs to an Armed Forces Bowl win over Tulsa due to NCAA bowl eligibility being waived for COVID-19 reasons. In his second season State improved to 6-6 and a bowl berth yet again. Mississippi State were on the rise in each year under Leach.
Just under three weeks ago, unbeknown to him, Leach coached his final game. In arguably his most satisfying win under Mississippi State the Bulldogs defeated fierce rivals Ole Miss in the 2022 Egg Bowl.
Mike Leach is survived by his wife of 30 years, Sharon, their four children Janeen, Kiersten, Kim and Cody, and three grandchildren. His passing can be felt across the college football community. Leach was a man that even rival school supporters couldn’t dislike largely due to his harmless demeanour.
Just when you thought you’d heard it all from the bubbly character more and more stories are developing online of counters with the two time PAC-12 coach of the year and former Big 12 coach of the year.
Leach’s legacy will live on for generations. His air raid scheme has been the backbone of college football programmes for decades already. Yet while future coaches may perfect his brand of football in years to come there won’t be another character quite like Mike Leach.
Rest in peace coach.
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