Former WSU coach Mike Leach dies at 61

PULLMAN--Hater of candy corn, lover of pirates, endless quote machine, innovator of the Air Raid offense and former Washington State head coach Mike Leach was announced dead on Dec. 13 after complications from a heart condition that left him hospitalized on Dec. 11. He was 61.

"(Leach) was a great character in the world of college football and one of its most innovative and creative offensive minds," Washington State Senator Mark Schoesler said in a statement. "During his years as WSU's head coach, his 'Air Raid' offense not only piled up yardage but it was very entertaining to watch. His success along the sideline was matched by his outspoken nature whenever he gave interviews. During his eight seasons in Pullman, he made the Cougars relevant. This is a sad day for Cougar Nation and college football fans. My thoughts and condolences go to his family, his current and former players and current and former assistant coaches."

After playing Rugby from 1979-1983 at Brigham Young University, and originally studying law before shifting his focus to coaching, Leach would begin his collegiate coaching career in 1987 as the offensive line coach for Cal Poly, before becoming the linebackers coach for College of the Desert in 1988.

Leach would then head overseas for a year, getting his first head coaching experience for the Pori Bears in the American Football Association of Finland in 1989.

Leach would quickly return to the States and serve as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Iowa Wesleyan from 1989-1991, before beginning a four-year tenure at Valdosta State from 1992-1996, coaching in a variety of roles such as offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach.

Leach then moved on to Kentucky, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1997-1998, then served the same roles at Oklahoma in 1999 under legendary college head coach Bob Stoops.

While at Kentucky, Leach had a national stage to show off the offense that would eventually make him known as an offensive guru.

While under the coaching of Leach, future first-round quarterback Tim Couch saw immeasurable success, being top three or better in every statistical passing category in 1997 and 1998.

This success continued at Oklahoma in 1999 with quarterback Josh Heupel, showing the college football world that the Air Raid offense was here to stay.

Heupel would be one of a few former quarterbacks under leach to take his teachings to great success, leading the Sooners to a National Title in 2000 and leading the Tennessee Volunteers to a 10-2 record and an Orange Bowl berth against Clemson this season.

In 2000, Leach would receive his first opportunity as a college head coach, helming the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2000-2009, and continuing to expand his coaching tree to include then-quarterback and now-Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Leach made a bowl game every single year at the helm of the Red Raiders, amassing an 84-43 record. Leach coached in nine out of the 10 bowl games, finishing with a 5-4 record. Texas Tech was able to reach highs as the 12th-ranked team in the nation in 2008 under Leach.

After a three-year break from the sideline, Leach would return to head coaching in 2012, this time taking the helm of the Washington State Cougars.

In his second year as head coach, Leach led the Cougars to a 6-6 regular-season record, making Washington State bowl-eligible for the first time in a decade.

Under Leach, Washington State saw a return to prominence it hadn't seen since the early 2000s. In the 2018 season, Washingon State finished the season 11-2, had ESPN College Gameday in Pullman for the first time since 2003 and capped the season off with an Alamo Bowl victory over Iowa State and a 10th-ranked finish in the Associated Press Top-25 poll.

After the 2019 season, Leach would accept the head coaching position at Mississippi State, where he coached for three years and led the Bulldogs to three straight bowl games, including this season, before his death.

"Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not just over Mississippi State University, but over the entire college football landscape," Mississippi State president Mark E. Keenum stated. "His innovative 'Air Raid' offense changed the game. Mike's keen intellect and unvarnished candor made him one of the nation's true coaching legends. His passing brings great sadness to our university, to the Southeastern Conference, and to all who loved college football. I will miss Mike's profound curiosity, his honesty, and his wide-open approach to pursuing excellence in all things."

The Leach family detailed a final act of charity by the former coach in a statement:

"Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather," the Leach family said in a statement. "He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity. We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father's life." Leach's was the oldest of six siblings. His family included Leach his wife, Sharon, four children, Janeen, Kim, Cody and Kiersten, and three grandchildren.

Leach's influence was felt throughout the college football world, not only as a coach, but as a friend.

"It's hard to put into words the impact that Mike Leach had on the players he coached, the game of football and me personally," Texas Christian University head coach Sonny Dykes said in a post on Twitter. "He was a unique personality and independent thinker and a great friend. No one had greater influence on my life other than my father. Rest in Peace coach."

Washington State released the following statement:

"Washington State University mourns the loss of Coach Mike Leach," WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun said. "We send our deepest condolences to Sharon and the entire Leach Family. Needless to say, there will never be another Mike Leach ever to walk this earth. He was a husband, father, grandfather, friend, football coach, teacher, lifelong learner, innovator, conversationalist and a pirate. WSU will forever be indebted to Coach Leach for the legacy he left with us in Pullman."