Mike Leach, college football coach who made the Air Raid mainstream, dies at 61
2 years ago

Mike Leach, college football coach who made the Air Raid mainstream, dies at 61

New York Times  

There is an alternate universe where the committee that selected the new football coach for the Key West High Conchs chose correctly in 1996. “Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not just over Mississippi State University, but over the entire college football landscape,” MSU president Mark E. Keenum said in a statement. “The place is like Disneyland, only without rides and merchandising.” Though Leach was fascinated by the offense LaVell Edwards ran in Provo, the former high school football player didn’t play for the Cougars. He does it in a roundabout way sometimes, but it’s his philosophy to get the quarterback to run the entire show.” Leach stayed with Mumme; they moved to Valdosta State and then Kentucky. It was at Kentucky where Leach’s offense so vexed Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops that when Stoops was hired in December 1998 to be Oklahoma’s head coach, he hired Leach to run the offense.

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History of this topic

Zach Kittley finalizes agreement to take over as Florida Atlantic coach
3 weeks ago

Zach Kittley finalizes agreement to take over as Florida Atlantic coach

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Kittley — the Texas Tech offensive coordinator for the last three seasons — is the new head coach at FAU, with the deal getting announced on Monday night. “Zach is one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game, and I am confident in his …

Tahj Brooks shines in final home game as Texas Tech routs West Virginia 52-15
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Tahj Brooks shines in final home game as Texas Tech routs West Virginia 52-15

Live Mint  

LUBBOCK, Texas — Tahj Brooks ran for a season-high 188 yards and three touchdowns in the final home game for Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher, and the Red Raiders rolled to a 52-15 victory over West Virginia on Saturday. Texas Tech kept alive faint hopes for a bid in the Big 12 championship game by winning at least eight games …

K-State hires former Texas Tech coach Matt Wells to help direct its offense
11 months, 2 weeks ago

K-State hires former Texas Tech coach Matt Wells to help direct its offense

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Kansas State hired former Texas Tech coach Matt Wells on Thursday to join offensive line coach Conor Riley as the Wildcats’ co-offensive coordinators following the departure of Collin Klein for the same job at Texas A&M. “He is someone who will bring a lot to the …

Mike Leach is still part of Mississippi State, but there’s no sob story in Starkville
1 year, 5 months ago

Mike Leach is still part of Mississippi State, but there’s no sob story in Starkville

New York Times  

— Drive up to Mississippi expecting a sob story, one of a football program crushed by grief and trying to rebuild in the honor and image of the iconic coach gone too soon. 3: “We had a bowl game to win.” Mississippi State was 8-4 and in the midst of something of a breakthrough season in Leach’s third year. “I …

Shough leads Texas Tech over Ole Miss 42-25 in Texas Bowl
1 year, 11 months ago

Shough leads Texas Tech over Ole Miss 42-25 in Texas Bowl

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! we’ll work every single day to reach our goals at Texas Tech.” Tyler Shough threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as Texas Tech took advantage of three early turnovers to build a big lead and held on for the …

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61
2 years ago

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Gruff, pioneering and unfiltered, Mississippi State’s Mike Leach was one of the most influential football coaches of this or any generation. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.” In 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington …

Mind of Mike: Expansive coaching tree part of Leach’s legacy
2 years ago

Mind of Mike: Expansive coaching tree part of Leach’s legacy

Associated Press  

When Mike Leach first moved to Mississippi State from Washington State, he stayed in the Left Field Lofts at the Bulldogs’ baseball stadium. Running the prolific Air Raid offense he learned from Hal Mumme as an assistant early in his career, Leach’s teams went 158-107 and often set records along the way. And that’s why he was able to turn …

Mike Leach dead: The Mississippi State coach’s Air Raid offense transformed college football.
2 years ago

Mike Leach dead: The Mississippi State coach’s Air Raid offense transformed college football.

Slate  

Most of the coaches who stand out as singular entities in the big sweep of college football got there because they won, won, and won. As author S.C. Gwynne chronicles in The Perfect Pass, a tome of the system that Mumme once told me I should read, the Air Raid was a radical shift when Mumme and Leach developed it …

‘You changed my life’: Lincoln Riley, others honor late coach Mike Leach
2 years ago

‘You changed my life’: Lincoln Riley, others honor late coach Mike Leach

LA Times  

Mike Leach first helped revolutionize college football offenses during his tenure at Texas Tech, planting what became a vast coaching tree and inspiring his peers. All of our prayers are with Sharon & the Leach family - Rest In Peace my friend.” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, who also was part of Leach’s staff at Texas Tech early in his …

Pioneering college football coach Mike Leach dies at 61
2 years ago

Pioneering college football coach Mike Leach dies at 61

LA Times  

Mike Leach, the gruff, pioneering and unfiltered college football coach who helped revolutionize the passing game with the Air Raid offense, died Monday night following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said Tuesday. Riley made the most of the opportunity to soak up essential traits of Leach’s Air Raid offense, fast-tracking his ascent as a young college football coaching …

Appreciation: ‘Call anytime.’ Football great Mike Leach always seemed eager to learn from others
2 years ago

Appreciation: ‘Call anytime.’ Football great Mike Leach always seemed eager to learn from others

LA Times  

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach looks across the field during a game against Georgia on Nov. 14. Sports Pioneering college football coach Mike Leach dies at 61 Mississippi State says football coach Mike Leach has died following complications from a heart condition at the age of 61. Today, with the official announcement that Leach died following complications from a heart …

Leach: 3 Miss. State players depart, RB Hill possibly next
4 years, 1 month ago

Leach: 3 Miss. State players depart, RB Hill possibly next

Associated Press  

— Mississippi State coach Mike Leach said that receiver Tyrell Shavers and defensive ends Tre Lawson and Jamari Stewart are no longer with the program that he has also heard that senior back Kylin Hill plans to opt out for the rest of the season to prepare for the NFL draft. Hill has caught 23 passes for 237 yards and …

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