Mississippi State Bulldogs News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

College football world mourns the death of Mike Leach

Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

College football world mourns the death of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/13/22

The college football world is mourning the death of a visionary. Mike Leach died Monday night at the age of 61. Mississippi State confirmed the news early Tuesday.

MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leachhttps://t.co/LzWyLyX3xM
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 13, 2022

"We are all better for having known Mike Leach," Mississippi State athletic director Bracky Brett said. "The thoughts and prayers of Mississippi State University and the entire Bulldog family are with his wife Sharon, his children and the entire Leach family."

Leach's "Air Raid" offense revolutionized the sport. As Brandon Langlois and Sid Salter note, that philosophy dates all the way back to 1989 when Leach developed the concepts of the offense alongside Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan College.

From such humble origins sprung an offensive explosion that continues to impact the sport to this day. Per Langlois and Salter, Leach's coaching tree includes current college coaches Lincoln Riley (USC), Dave Aranda (Baylor), Josh Heupel (Tennessee) and Sonny Dykes (TCU), as well as NFL head coach Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona).

The college football world mourned the loss of a titan in coaching, a self-proclaimed "Pirate" whose singular flair ran counter to the rigidity and scriptedness that usually comes with the job.

Players, sportswriters and fans detailed and praised his uncompromising originality with some recalling stories that highlight what made him so unique.

Heartbroken. Prayers for the entire Leach family and @HailStateFB pic.twitter.com/pluR0EMCDN
— Josh Heupel (@coachjoshheupel) December 13, 2022

I once called Mike Leach to talk about Hal Mumme and how they changed the world of college football. Leach spent 20 of our 30 mins educating/lecturing me about Geronimo, the Apache warrior and medicine man.

RIP to an college football original.
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) December 13, 2022

Mike Leach was 1-of-1. He was one of the best characters in sports and was an innovator that helped change football. In a world where coaches are corporate and mostly the same, he stood out because he was genuinely himself.

This is a terrible day for college football.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) December 13, 2022

Covering Mike Leach was funny because he’d refuse to offer anything worthwhile about his team one minute, then give a thorough account of life with a pet raccoon the next.

There is no mind like his, and I’m praying we get to enjoy his musings again soon.pic.twitter.com/MQkSVnRFz4
— Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) December 12, 2022

Mike Leach was 1 of 1. Quirky personality with an unbelievable football mind. Look no further than Heisman trophy. 1-2 and 5 finishers coaches either played for or coached under Leach. Praying for his family & friends. Gonna be hard to replace that space in their hearts.
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) December 13, 2022

Mike Leach taught a class entitled Insurgent Warfare and Football Strategies at Wazzu because of course he did. https://t.co/766xsmqGu9 pic.twitter.com/QuB67yW127
— Jane Coaston (@janecoaston) December 13, 2022

College football lost a trailblazer on Monday night. Thanks to Leach's expansive reach on the sport, the trail remains lit.

More must-reads: