Veteran college football coach Mike Leach, 61, died Monday night from complications from heart disease. Leach, who has led Mississippi since 2020, was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on Sunday to receive treatment for a medical accident suffered at his home.
The leech was last seen Saturday night at a local holiday party.
The Leach family issued a statement through the school Tuesday morning regarding his passing. Thanks to the love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, hospital staff, and soccer fans around the world. Thank you for sharing the joy of life with our dear husband and father.
Acclaimed alongside Hal Mam as the designer of the innovative and record-breaking ‘air raid’ attack, Leach has been named National Coach of the Year three times and Power Five Conference Coach of the Year three times. . During his 21-year head coaching career, he won his two Power Five Division titles and led the team to his 19th bowl his game.
A high school footballer (1979-83) who played rugby for five years for BYU, Leach earned a master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy and attended Pepperdine University before taking over offensive line responsibilities at Cal Poly in 1987. obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence. He rose to prominence as HUM’s offensive coordinator on raids in Iowa Wesleyan (1989-91), Valdosta State (1992-96), and Kentucky (1997-98), and in 1999, Bob Stoops in Oklahoma. Branched out to join the staff.
Leach proved his record-breaking air-raid offense viability in two major programs and earned his first head coaching job at Texas Tech in 2000. The show’s all-time winningest coach came to an abrupt end when he was eventually fired during an investigation into alleged player mistreatment.
Leach returned to Washington State in 2012 after a two-year retirement and similarly turned the Cougars around, winning four of their last five seasons, including an 11-2 record in 2018.
Mississippi State hired Leach for 2020, a month after rival Ole Miss brought in Lane Kiffin as their coach. The Bulldogs have gone 15-10 over the last two seasons with Leach compiling an overall record of 158-107 as a college-level head coach.
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum said: “His revolutionary ‘air raid’ offense changed the game. Mike’s keen intellect and outspoken candor made him one of the country’s true coaching legends. His death will mark our college, Much grief to all who love the Southeastern Conference and college football.You will miss Mike’s deep curiosity, integrity and his open-minded approach to striving for excellence in all things. .”
Leach’s 158 wins rank him fifth among active Power Five coaches at the end of the 2022 season, and his air raid offense saw his team win 10 of the 21 seasons he was head coach. I was able to lead FBS over the years. He coached seven 600-yard passing games in his career, and seven different quarterbacks led those performances.
The success of Leach’s raids went far beyond the program he led. Branches of his coaching tree include Dave Aranda (Baylor), Neil Brown (West Virginia), Sonny Camby (Louisiana Tech), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Dana Holgosen (Houston), Cliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals) and Lincoln. Riley and many others. (USC) and Ken Wilson (Nevada) were coached by him at one point.
Kingsbury, who served as Leach’s quarterback at Texas Tech and succeeded him four years after Leach was sacked at Red, said, “If it weren’t for Mike Leach and him teaching me about the game, I wouldn’t be here today. I didn’t have my own self,” he said. Raiders. “Truly one of the most innovative minds in football, he was more than a coach. He was a mentor, a friend and the most special person I have ever met. My heart goes out to Sharon, the Leach family and all of you.” Our sport is better because of Mike Leach, but it’s not fun without him. was.
A Texas Tech quarterback under Leach, Riley has coached three of the past six Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams) and played three college football games in Oklahoma. He had more success than any assistant by qualifying for the playoffs. .
“We will certainly miss you, but the impact you made on so many will live on,” Riley wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “Thank you for every moment. You changed my life and many others. All our prayers are with Sharon and the Leach family. Rest in peace my friend.”
Beyond his on-field achievements, Leach has emerged as one of college football’s most notable figures in his last two decades as head coach.
He was affectionately nicknamed “The Pirate” — for his daring style when it came to innovation on the field, his willingness to talk about any subject without filters (sometimes denying political correctness), and his “swing your sword‘ The mantra was used to prepare the team to fight in the grid.
A scholar, an educator, a history buff, Leach seemed to know something about all things and was happy to jump right into any topic. Not only did he play well on the field, student-athletes on his team frequently graduated with high marks.
Leach has authored two books. His 2011 autobiography Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and in Life became a New York Times bestseller, and Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior was published in 2014. rice field. His 5-week course “Insurgents and Football Strategy” in Washington state in 2019.
Leach will surely be remembered for his unique style on and off the field, as well as his ability to get the most out of his team. His impact on college football over the past 40 years has been immense.
CBS Sports will update this article when additional information becomes available.
