Daily US Times: Washington State head coach Mike Leach, often referred to as “the pirate” due to his fascination with 18th-century pirates, is steering his ship Southeast to grow to be the head coach at Mississippi State, a person with knowledge of the situation. The individual asked to remain anonymous as a result of the hire has not yet been announced.
Mississippi State athletic director Jon Cohen appeared to substantiate the hiring of the outspoken coach on Twitter. Cohen posted a picture of himself and Leach with the next caption: “Here we go!”
“I am unable to inform you how excited I’m to be the head football coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs,” Leach said. “I loved Washington State, however, I’m excited for the next chapter within the SEC. It is a privilege to be part of the MSU family, and we look forward to getting down to Starkville shortly.”
“Mike Leach is a confirmed winner who has established a tradition of excellence for almost 20 years as a head coach,” Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said.
“An offensive genius and two-time nationwide coach of the yr, he has a track record of building applications to national prominence with accountability and a blue-collar strategy. We’re thrilled to welcome him and his family to the Mississippi State family and look forward to watching our football program grow below his management.”
Leach has been linked to different jobs lately, together with SEC openings. There have been reports that former Tennessee athletic director John Currie was on the verge of hiring Leach away from Washington State for the Tennessee job after the Greg Schiano fiasco, however, Currie lost his job first and Phil Fulmer wound up hiring Jeremy Pruitt.
A transfer to Starkville might be a greater fit for Leach’s profile, nevertheless. Whereas Leach got his first style of major college football as an assistant at Kentucky and spent time as an offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, his head coaching career has been spent at smaller schools in Power 5 conferences. In that sense, Starkville is much like Lubbock (Texas Tech) and Pullman (Washington State). What will be different this time is the scale of the highlight on Leach.
Mike Leach has been the head coach at Washington State since 2012. He has compiled a 55-47 record with six bowl appearances prior to now seven seasons. Most just lately, the Cougars went 6-7 in 2019 after completed 11-2 in 2018, which marked essentially the most wins in program historical past.
Washington State’s head coach Mike Leach argues with officers in the course of the second half towards Air Force during the Cheez-It Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 27, 2019.
Well-known for his air-raid offensive system, Leach has coached a number of the greatest offenses in school football over the past 20 years. His quarterback this past season, Anthony Gordon, led the country in passing yards per game.
Gordon threw for 429.2 yards per game. The second man on that listing was Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who handed for 372 yards per game. Gordon also tossed 48 landing passes this season, second behind solely Burrow’s 55.
Washington State had the nation’s No. 7 complete offense in 2019 regardless of its dropping record. The Cougars racked up 505.2 yards per game.
Earlier than main Washington State, Leach was 84-43 in 10 seasons with Texas Tech. His tenure ended when he was fired in 2009 amid allegations of mishandling a participant’s head injury. This is not going to be Leach’s first stop within the SEC. He beforehand was the offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 1997-98 under Hal Mumme.
Leach, 58, replaces Joe Moorhead, who was fired last week after simply two seasons in Starkville. Moorhead went 14-12 at Mississippi State in his first stint as a Division I coach.
As a part of the transfer, Leach owes Washington State a buyout of $2.25 million as a part of his rolling five-year deal that was due to pay him $4 million in 2020.
Mississippi State handed 39.2% of the time in 2019, so Bulldog’s followers can be seeing a wholly new kind of offense within the close to future.
Who’s Mike Leach
Who’s Mike Leach? According to Wikipedia, Michael Charles Leach is an American college football coach who’s at the moment the head coach at Mississippi State University. He was previously the head coach at Washington State College and ranks because of the third-winningest coach at school historical past.
Leach agreed to terms with Washington State on November 30, 2011, and commenced coaching for the 2012 season. His five-year rollover contract made Leach the fourth-highest paid coach within the Pac-12. On December 5, 2019, Leach received a contract extension through 2024.
At a glance who’s Mike Leach, Source: Wikipedia | |
Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Head coach |
Team | Mississippi State |
Conference | SEC |
Record | 0–0 |
Biographical details | |
Born | March 9, 1961 (age 58) Susanville, California |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University (1983) Pepperdine University (JD, 1986) |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1987 | Cal Poly (OL) |
1988 | College of the Desert (LB) |
1989 | Pori Bears |
1989–1991 | Iowa Wesleyan (OC/OL) |
1992–1993 | Valdosta State (OC/WR/QB) |
1994–1996 | Valdosta State (OC/OL) |
1997–1998 | Kentucky (OC/QB) |
1999 | Oklahoma (OC/QB) |
2000–2009 | Texas Tech |
2012–2019 | Washington State |
2020–present | Mississippi State |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 139–90 |
Bowls | 7–8 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 Pac-12 North Division (2018)1 Big 12 South Division (2008) | |
Awards | |
AFCA Coach of the Year (2018)George Munger Award (2008)Woody Hayes Trophy (2008)2× Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2015, 2018)Big 12 Coach of the Year (2008) |
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