Former Washington State University shot manager Mike Leach died Monday pursuing complications from a bosom condition, Mississippi State University officials said Tuesday successful a statement. He was 61.
In a connection released by the university, Leach’s household remembered him arsenic “a giving and attentive husband, begetter and grandfather.”
“He was capable to enactment successful organ donation astatine UMMC (University of Mississippi Medical Center) arsenic a last enactment of charity,” they said. “We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of emotion and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the infirmary staff, and shot fans astir the world. Thank you for sharing successful the joyousness of our beloved hubby and father’s life.”
Leach was named arsenic Mississippi State’s caput shot connected Jan. 9, 2020. He antecedently coached for 10 years astatine Texas Tech University and for 8 seasons astatine Washington State University.
“Coach Mike Leach formed a tremendous shadiness not conscionable implicit Mississippi State University, but implicit the full assemblage shot landscape,” MSU President Mark Keenum said successful a statement.
“Mike’s keen intellect and unvarnished candor made him 1 of the nation’s existent coaching legends. His passing brings large sadness to our university, to the Southeastern Conference, and to each who loved assemblage football. I volition miss Mike’s profound curiosity, his honesty, and his wide-open attack to pursuing excellence successful each things.”
WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun released the pursuing statement: “Washington State University mourns the nonaccomplishment of Coach Mike Leach. We nonstop our deepest condolences to Sharon and the full Leach Family. Needless to say, determination volition ne'er beryllium different Mike Leach ever to locomotion this earth. He was a husband, father, grandfather, friend, shot coach, teacher, lifelong learner, innovator, conversationalist and a pirate. WSU volition everlastingly beryllium indebted to Coach Leach for the bequest helium near with america successful Pullman.”
WSU Men’s Basketball Coach Kyle Smith released the pursuing statement: “I was fortunate capable to person my vocation transverse paths with Coach Leach. He was ever adjuvant and ever had an encouraging connection for maine transitioning to Wazzu. Sometimes it was a nutrient proposal and different times it was a bully retired of bounds play. He enjoyed coaching and was not acrophobic of competition. I told him I work ‘Swing Your Sword’ and helium inspired maine to marque the leap to Pullman. I uncertainty helium believed me, but it was the truth. Rest successful peace.”
Jason Puckett, a WSU alum and co-host of ‘Puck & Jim’ connected 93.3 KJR Sports Radio said Leah was “the champion prosecute the schoolhouse ever made.” Adding, “Probably going to beryllium the champion signing ever due to the fact that of wherever the authorities of Cougar shot was astatine that moment. He was the cleanable property for that school. He made them applicable again. It was a agelong clip since that shot squad had been relevant.”
Puckett’s co-host, Jim Moore, a WSU alum too, remembers WSU being “in the dumps. We were horrible. Then Mike Leach got there, and we were not lone applicable successful the Pac-12, but we were applicable connected a nationalist scale, too. He was ever genuine. He was ever authentic. Unique gets tossed astir mode excessively much, but it applies to Mike Leach due to the fact that helium was a antithetic benignant of guy.”
University officials said Sunday that Leach had a “personal wellness contented astatine his home” that prompted him to beryllium taken by ambulance to the University of Mississippi Medical Center successful Jackson. Officials did not elaborate connected the quality of the issue, though the Clarion Ledger connected Monday reported that Leach had suffered “a monolithic bosom attack.”
In his 21 years arsenic caput coach, Leach led teams to 19 vessel games and captured 2 league part titles, according to Mississippi State officials. He had an wide 158-107 record.
“College shot mislaid 1 of its astir beloved figures today, but his bequest volition past forever,” MSU interim athletics manager Bracky Brett said.
“Mike’s energetic personality, influential beingness and bonzer enactment touched millions of athletes, students, coaches, fans, household and friends for decades. Mike was an innovator, pioneer and visionary. He was a assemblage shot icon, a coaching fable but an adjacent amended person. We are each amended for having known Mike Leach.”
Leach is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their children, Janeen, Kimberly, Cody and Kiersten.
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