Mike Leach was much more than just a football coach; and he was beloved by everyone for his quirkiness and carefree attitude. Nicknamed "The Pirate," Leach significantly impacted the offensive side of the ball in not just college football but all of football.
Leach and Hal Mumme created the Air Raid offense, which shook the fabric of college football. In the days when most teams were run heavy, Leach and Mumme decided to break that mold and try something different.
Much is made about Leach's offensive innovations, as it should be, but he was more than just a brilliant offensive mind. Leach was a tremendous leader and was a disciplinarian.
Do not let the hilarious rants or confused facial expressions fool you. Leach was a demanding coach, as all great coaches are. When Leach took over Mississippi State football in 2020, his challenges and demanding ways rubbed some players the wrong way, but he wanted to be that way and find out who would be bought into doing things his way.
My favorite Leach moment was when the Bulldogs traveled to Athens with just over 40 players, and in a situation where many coaches could and would have canceled, the Pirate did not. MSU was severely outnumbered, but the players on the field fought and came up just short, 31-24 to Georgia.
Coach Leach was beloved for simply being himself and not caring what others thought. Leach lived life and coached football on his terms, and sometimes, it did not work out or rubbed people the wrong way.
However, he was always confident in himself and never let someone tell him he could not do something. He was a brilliant man and coach who walked to the beat of his own drum.
People will remember Leach for many reasons, including his rants about weddings, his Air Raid offense, and his subtly fiery attitude. Although he has passed away, the memory of The Pirate will live forever.
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