Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach passes away at the age of 61.
The University announced in a statement on Monday night that Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach passed away due to complications from a heart condition at the age of 61.
In the statement, the Leach family described Mike as a loving and attentive husband, father, and grandfather, highlighting his participation in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity. They expressed gratitude for the support and prayers received from family, friends, Mississippi State University, hospital staff, and football fans worldwide, thanking them for celebrating Mike’s life.
MSU athletics had confirmed on Sunday that Leach had been hospitalized for a “personal health issue” and later transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Earlier on Monday, the school had announced that Leach remained in critical condition at the medical center, surrounded by his family.
Leach was in his third season with the Bulldogs, having amassed a 19-17 record in Starkville. He had served as a college football head coach for 21 seasons, previously coaching at Texas Tech (2000-2009) and Washington State (2012-2019).
Leach’s most notable, and perhaps most controversial, coaching tenure occurred during his ten years coaching at Texas Tech.
He was terminated from his position at Texas Tech on December 30, 2009, for alleged misconduct towards a player suffering from a concussion. The player in question was Adam James, son of former ESPN broadcaster Craig James. Craig James claimed that Leach punished his son by confining him to an electrical closet for several hours due to his concussion, a narrative that Leach vehemently denied and asserted was contradicted by witnesses. Subsequently, Leach filed a lawsuit against the school for wrongful termination.
Throughout his coaching career, Leach achieved a 158-107 record with 16 winning seasons. He guided his teams to 18 bowl appearances, winning eight of them.
Renowned for his offensive expertise and being one of the architects of the high-powered “Air Raid” passing offense, Leach was also known for his eccentric responses during press conferences. Notably, 10 of the 50 most productive individual seasons for passing yards in FBS history were achieved by players under Leach’s guidance.
In 2018, following Washington State’s first-ever 11-win season, Leach received the American Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year award. He was also honored in 2008 with three national coach of the year accolades after Texas Tech’s 11-2 campaign.
In a statement on Sunday, Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum and interim athletic director Bracky Brett announced that defensive coordinator Zach Arnett would assume leadership of the MSU football team during Leach’s absence.
Despite the situation, the Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC) intend to compete against Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big 10) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 2 (11 a.m. ET, ESPN) in Tampa, Florida. However, it remains uncertain whether the game will proceed as scheduled.
Brett informed ESPN’s Chris Low that “the players are fully committed to playing in this bowl game and fulfilling Coach Leach’s expectations.”
Tributes for Leach
The announcement of Leach’s passing evoked an immediate and heartfelt response on social media, particularly from individuals who had coached or played alongside him.
Kliff Kingsbury, currently the coach of the Arizona Cardinals, enjoyed a remarkable college football career at Texas Tech, where he spent three seasons under Leach’s guidance. Kingsbury graduated with numerous NCAA records, including those for single-season and career passing attempts, single-season and career passing completions, and the highest single-game completion percentage.
Reflecting on his time with Leach, Kingsbury expressed fond memories, stating that he wouldn’t “be where I am today if not for Mike Leach and everything he taught me about the game.”
"[Mike Leach was] the smartest coach I've ever been around. … He's one of the truly irreplaceable figures in the history of the game. Records are one thing … but the legacy that one leaves behind is what I heard from his many friends and coaching colleagues."
—@finebaum pic.twitter.com/JwIamgWCnW
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 13, 2022
Lane Kiffin, who coaches Mississippi State in-state rival Ole Miss, told ESPN, “You can have great rivalries and passion and still love each other. I loved (Coach Leach).”
