College soccer misplaced an icon on Monday night time.
Mike Leach, offensive mastermind and larger-than-life character, died following problems from a coronary heart situation, Mississippi State introduced.
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, other and grandfather,” the Leach household mentioned in an announcement. “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, the pinnacle coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, was 61-years-old.
Before his 21-year run as a head coach, Leach made a reputation for himself as a pioneering offensive assistant.
He began his teaching profession because the offensive line coach at Cal Poly in 1987 earlier than one yr stints with the College of the Desert and the Pori Bears.
He then adopted Hal Mumme and moved to Iowa Wesleyan from 1989-1991, and coached on employees at Valdosta State from 1992-1996, in addition to a stint beneath Mumme at Kentucky from 1997-1998 the place the duo helped domesticate their iconic air raid offense.
In 1999, Bob Stoops employed Leach because the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, the place Leach turned the Sooners assault into the top-ranked unit within the Big 12.
After one season in Norman, Leach was employed as the pinnacle coach at Texas Tech the place he helped flip the Big 12 into one of the wide-open offensive conferences in soccer.
Leach delivered nine-win seasons in 2002, 2005 and 2007 earlier than thrusting the Red Raiders into the center of the nationwide title hunt in 2008 the place he received three nationwide coach of the yr awards.
At Texas Tech, Leach developed quarterbacks Kill Kingsbury, Sonny Cumbie and Graham Harrell who all moved into the teaching ranks after their enjoying days had expired.
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He posted an 84-43 document earlier than turning round Washington State, the place he completed with a 55-47 general document in eight seasons.
In 2020, Leach moved to the SEC, arriving in Starkville with Mississippi State.
He completed 19-17 in three seasons with the Bulldogs.
Leach’s 158 profession wins at the FBS degree are the second-most amongst lively SEC coaches and the fifth-most amongst lively Power 5 coaches.
His teaching tree spreads far and huge and shapes school soccer each weekend.
Former assistants went on to be head coached in Lincoln Riley, Dave Aranda, Josh Heupel, Cumbie, Dana Holgorsen, Seth Littrell, Art Briles, Ken Wilson, Neal Brown, Eric Morris, Sonny Dykes, Kingsbury and Ruffin McNeil, and notable assistants embody Bill Bedenbaugh, Alex Grinch and Wes Welker amongst others.
Leach and his spouse Sharon raised 4 youngsters: Janeen, Kimberly, Cody and Kiersten.
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