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

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.

"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.

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

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