PULLMAN, Wash. (Dec. 12, 2022) – Mike Leach, who guided the Washington State Football program to six bowl games in his eight years in Pullman from 2012-19, passed away Monday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, following complications from a heart condition. Leach was 61.
“Washington State University mourns the loss of Coach Mike Leach,” said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun. “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.
“Coach Leach changed the game of football,” Chun continued. “His “Air Raid” philosophy impacted the sport on the NFL, college and high school levels. His legacy in the sport of football will endure through all his former players, coaches and staff who had the fortune of learning from one of the great minds ever to coach the sport.
“We were fortunate to have Coach Leach lead the WSU Football program for 8 years. Mike will be forever loved, terribly missed and never forgotten.”
Leach arrived in Pullman prior to the 2012 season and within two seasons, returned the Cougars to the national stage as in 2013, WSU reached a bowl game for the first time in a decade. Two years later, WSU defeated Miami in the 2015 Sun Bowl to cap a 9-4 season, its most wins since 2003. It marked the first of five-straight bowl appearances under Leach, the greatest five-year stretch in Cougar Football history.
During his time in Pullman, Leach guided the Cougars to 55 victories, third-most in program history, was a two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year. He is the only coach to lead WSU to six bowl games and in 2018, led WSU to a school-record 11 victories, a win in the Alamo Bowl and a No. 10 final national ranking.
The accomplishments for Leach in his 21 years as a head coach are long and distinguished. He has compiled a 158-107 (.596) record, guided his squads to 19 bowl games, produced seven seasons of at least nine victories, captured two conference division titles, became the winningest coach in Texas Tech history and set school records…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Washington State University Athletics…