Munich – Longtime college football coach Mike Leach has died at the age of 61, the University of Mississippi officially announced on Tuesday.
Leach has been the Mississippi State Bulldogs football coach since 2020. As the school announced, he died as a result of heart failure.
“A coaching legend of the nation”
“Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not only on Mississippi State University but on the entire college football landscape,” said school president Mark E. Keenum in a statement.
“His innovative ‘Air Raid’ offense changed the game. Mike’s sharp mind and candid candor made him one of the nation’s true coaching legends. His passing fills our varsity, the Southeastern Conference, and everyone who loved college football, with great sadness,” Keenum continued.
Leach coached Kingsbury and Minshew
Leach began his college coaching career in 2000 at Texas Tech University. He had previously worked as an assistant in Oklahoma in the 1990s. He later served as an assistant professor at Iowa Wesleyan University, Valdosta State University, and in Kentucky.
In Texas he trained with the Red Raiders, including Kliff Kingsbury. He then moved to Washington State, where he built his offense around Gardner Minshew.
Family overwhelmed with sympathy
After eight years in Washington, Leach went to Mississippi State, where he has served since 2020. He and the Bulldogs finished the 2022 season with a record of 8-4 – then the school announced his retirement due to illness-related problems.
“Mike was a generous and thoughtful husband, father and grandfather,” said a statement from Leach’s family. “We are overwhelmed with the love and prayers of family, friends, Mississippi State University, hospital staff and football fans around the world.”