Mike Leach, the eccentric longtime school soccer coach who was guiding the Mississippi State Bulldogs, has died. He was 61.
The college introduced his demise on Tuesday.
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather,” Leach’s household mentioned in a press release. “He was in a position to take part in organ donation at UMMC as a remaining act of charity. We’re supported and uplifted by the outpouring of affection and prayers from household, buddies, Mississippi State College, the hospital employees, and soccer followers world wide. Thanks for sharing within the pleasure of our beloved husband and father’s life.”
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Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach appears to be like for his gamers following an NCAA school soccer recreation towards Bowling Inexperienced in Starkville, Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Mississippi State received 45-14.
(AP Picture/Rogelio V. Solis)
The college mentioned Leach died following problems from a coronary heart situation.
“Coach Mike Leach forged an incredible shadow not simply over Mississippi State College, however over your complete school soccer panorama,” faculty president Mark E. Keenum mentioned in a press release. “His modern ‘Air Raid’ offense modified the sport. Mike’s eager mind and unvarnished candor made him one of many nation’s true teaching legends. His passing brings nice unhappiness to our college, to the Southeastern Convention, and to all who cherished school soccer. I’ll miss Mike’s profound curiosity, his honesty, and his wide-open strategy to pursuing excellence in all issues.”
Keenum added, “Mike’s demise additionally underscores the fragility and uncertainty of our lives. Three weeks in the past, Mike and I have been collectively within the locker room celebrating a hard-fought victory in Oxford. Mike Leach really embraced life and lived in such a way as to go away no regrets. That is a worthy legacy. Could God bless the Leach household throughout as of late and hours. The prayers of the Bulldog household go along with them.”
Leach bought his collegiate head-coaching begin at Texas Tech College in 2000 after serving as an assistant underneath Bob Stoops at Oklahoma within the late Nineties. He was additionally an assistant underneath Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan College and moved to Valdosta State and later Kentucky. He additionally frolicked within the American Soccer Affiliation of Finland as a head coach.
Mike Leach the pinnacle coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs towards the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Subject on Oct. 15, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Photographs)
MIKE LEACH’S EPIC RANTS AND CLEVER QUIPS REMEMBERED AS MISSISSIPPI STATE COACH BATTLES HEALTH ISSUE
He introduced that information to the Pink Raiders, the place he developed a number of quarterbacks into gunslingers – Kliff Kingsbury and Graham Harrell to call just a few. He was 84-43 with Texas Tech and 5-4 in bowl video games.
Three years later, Leach took the Washington State job and introduced the Cougars to prominence. Once more, he would put collectively an offense that noticed Gardner Minshew and Anthony Gordon rack up greater than 4,000 passing yards of their respective seasons.
He spent eight years at Washington State and led them to an 11-win season in 2018. He was 55-47 with the Cougars and 2-4 in bowl video games.
In 2020, Leach moved to Mississippi State and an SEC that was already loaded with the game’s high coaches. He was 4-7 within the COVID-impacted season however salvaged the yr with a win within the Armed Forces Bowl.
He would go 7-6 in 2021 and 8-4 in 2022. He was getting ready for the ReliaQuest Bowl when the varsity introduced his well being challenge.
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach earlier than the sport towards the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 5, 2022 in Starkville, Mississippi.
(Justin Ford/Getty Photographs)
“We’re heartbroken and devastated by the passing of Mike Leach,” interim athletics director Bracky Brett mentioned in a press release. “Faculty soccer misplaced one among its most beloved figures in the present day, however his legacy will final without end. Mike’s energetic character, influential presence and extraordinary management touched thousands and thousands of athletes, college students, coaches, followers, household and buddies for many years.
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“Mike was an innovator, pioneer and visionary. He was a school soccer icon, a training legend however a good higher individual. We’re all higher for having recognized Mike Leach. The ideas and prayers of Mississippi State College and your complete Bulldog household are along with his spouse Sharon, his youngsters and your complete Leach household.”
