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Mike Leach
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Michael C. Leach (born in Susanville, California) is the current head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team. Regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football, Leach has had a winning season every year since his tenure began at Tech. Wishbone formation creator Emory Bellard has stated that Leach does the best job of any offensive coordinator in the nation.
ough born to Frank and Sandra Leach in Susanville, California, Mike Leach claims Cody, Wyoming as his hometown.
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Michael C. Leach (born in Susanville, California) is the current head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team. Regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football, Leach has had a winning season every year since his tenure began at Tech. Wishbone formation creator Emory Bellard has stated that Leach does the best job of any offensive coordinator in the nation.
Personal
Although born to Frank and Sandra Leach in Susanville, California, Mike Leach claims Cody, Wyoming as his hometown. He graduated from Cody High School before studying at Brigham Young University, where he closely followed the exploits of the Brigham Young Cougars. The Cougars, guided by head coach LaVell Edwards and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, played a pass-oriented offense. Leach graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in American Studies.
In 1986, Leach earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Pepperdine University School of Law. Leach is also one of the most prominent graduates of the United States Sports Academy, from which he earned a Master's of Sports Science/Coaching in 1988. Leach is married with four children. He was raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Leach is atypical among NCAA Division I head football coaches, as he did not play football at the college level. He is one of only six such coaches, with Mark Mangino at Kansas, Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech, Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, David Cutcliffe at Duke, and George O'Leary at UCF.
Coaching career
Offensive scheme
Leach is known for building some very potent offenses, directing very prolific passing-oriented teams that have broken school and NCAA records at Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, where he was offensive coordinator under Hal Mumme and Bob Stoops, respectively, and Texas Tech, where he became head coach in 2000. Leach's spread offense relies heavily on passing and he has seen several of his quarterbacks post NCAA records. At Kentucky he tutored prospect Tim Couch into a No. 1 NFL Draft Pick. At Oklahoma, Josh Heupel became an NFL draft pick following a year under Leach's tutelage.
Texas Tech
The Leach-coached Red Raiders' best finishes came with their nine-win seasons in 2002, 2005, and 2007 and an 11-win season in 2008. In 2002, Tech swept its in-state conference rivals Baylor, Texas, and Texas A&M for the first time since 1997 and then defeated Clemson, 55–15, in the Tangerine Bowl. It was the Red Raiders' first postseason win since 1995 when they beat the Air Force Falcons in the Copper Bowl. In 2005, the Raiders opened their season with a 6–0 record, the best start since 1998, and defeated Oklahoma for the first time under Leach. Leach has built a strong passing offense at Tech. The Red Raiders have led the NCAA in passing yardage for four years in a row. At Tech, he inserted Kliff Kingsbury for three years. Kingsbury broke the NCAA records for completions in a career. Following Kingsburry, B. J. Symons stepped in, producing the most passing yards in a season in NCAA history. Sonny Cumbie jumped up leading the Red Raiders to an upset of the then-4th ranked California in the Holiday Bowl. Cody Hodges got called to duty, leading the NCAA in passing. Graham Harrell, the first non-senior starting QB since Kingsbury, struggled early in the 2006 season. However, he showed steady improvement beginning with the game against Iowa State and ended the season with a record-setting victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Under Mike Leach, Texas Tech has been known for its high-scoring offense and come-from-behind victories. A 70–35 win over TCU in 2004 began with TCU leading 21–0 with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter. Before Tech's scoring drives started, a TCU defensive back was caught mouthing into a TV camera, "They aren't going to score." Later in the season, Texas Tech beat Nebraska, 70–10, forcing the Cornhuskers to give up more points in a single game than they had before in their 114-year history. In 2005, the Red Raiders were losing to Kansas State, 13–10, late in the second quarter but won the game 59–20. Also in 2005, Tech had a halftime lead of 14–10 over Texas A&M. By the end of the game, they increased the margin to 56–17. It was the Aggies' worst loss to the Red Raiders in the 64-year-old series. During the 2005 game against Texas A&M, Fox Sports Net featured a segment that focused on Leach's affinity for pirates.
Leach also coached the biggest comeback in NCAA Division 1-A history in the 2006 Insight Bowl versus the University of Minnesota. With Texas Tech trailing 38–7 in the third quarter, the Red Raiders shocked the Golden Gophers 44–41 in overtime, breaking the previous record for largest comeback in bowl game history with 31 points, topping BYU's 28 point comeback against SMU in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. In addition, Leach won the 2008 Gator Bowl after trailing 28–14 with 3:39 remaining, to win 31–28.
Mike Leach was chosen to coach the South team during the 2007 inaugural Inta Juice North-South All-Star Classic game.
At the end of the 2008 season, Leach was 76–39 with the Red Raiders, including 7–2 against the Texas A&M Aggies and 2–7 against the Texas Longhorns. With a 5–4 record, he is the all-time winningest coach in postseason play in Tech football history. Leach is one of only sixteen active college football coaches who have never had a losing season. Of those, he is among nine who have been a head coach for at least five seasons.
In February 2009, Leach signed a three-year contract extention with Texas Tech that will pay him at least $2.5 million per year if he stays in place through 2013. Leach's guaranteed compensation will be $1.6 million in 2006, $1.65 million in 2007, $1.75 million in 2008, $1.85 million in 2009 and $2.15 million in 2010.
2007 Texas game controversy
During his post-game press conference after the 2007 game against Texas, Leach used most of his time to rail against the officiating crew for what he felt were bad calls. He speculated that the officials may have favored Texas because the head official lives in Austin, because they are incompetent, or possibly because the conference wants Texas to appear in a BCS bowl because of the increased appearance fees that such a bowl generates for the conference. Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press wrote "Leach was upset officials disallowed two Tech touchdowns in the third quarter. The first was overruled when video replay clearly showed the receiver let the ball hit the ground. On the next play, a touchdown pass was negated by a holding penalty. Leach also wanted, but didn't get, a flag for roughing the quarterback." The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported, "Big 12 policy prohibits coaches from commenting publicly about game officials, so Leach's actions leave him open to reprimand, fine or worse." ESPN reported, "Big 12 official spokesman Bob Burda did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment. Leach's rant will likely draw a fine from the league and possibly a suspension."
On November 13, 2007, the Big 12 fined Leach $10,000, the largest fine in Big 12 history. Leach also received a reprimand and was warned that further violations could result in suspension. In a Big 12 coaches' conference call that day, Leach added that he does not regret making any of the comments. Leach announced that he would appeal the fine. Tech alumni and fans began raising money to aid Leach in paying the penalty in the event that it was upheld. Optionally, the proceeds raised could be used charitably. So, just before Christmas 2007, Leach requested that the nearly $5,000 raised to that point be spent on 400 hams to be given free to families in Lubbock. Future donations were to go to the university or athletic department. Following the 2008 Gator Bowl, in which Virginia scored twice on penalties against Tech for intentional grounding in the end zone, Leach joked, "I felt like we had a back there on the one safety, but I don't comment on officiating. I just give out hams is what I do."
2008 season
Leach, along with players Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree were featured on the cover of the 2008 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football. The magazine predicted that the 2008 Red Raider football team would be the best in Texas and would challenge for the Big 12 South title. Following a 9–0 beginning to the season, including a win over the undefeated #1 Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers announced that the university will renegotiate Leach's contract following the conclusion of the football regular season and give him an extension.
The Red Raiders ended the 2008 regular season with 11 wins and 1 loss, the best in school history. The season also marked the first win over a #1 ranked team. Tech, along with Oklahoma and Texas, shared the Big 12 South division title. On December 2, 2008, the Associated Press named Leach the Big 12 Coach of the Year. He received 16 votes for the honor by the agency's panel, while Texas' Mack Brown got 4. He won co-Coach of the Year honors from the Big 12 coaches; Oklahoma's Bob Stoops received the same recognition for the same season. The Dallas Morning News named him Coach of the Year as well. He garnered the 2008 George Munger Award, which is given annually to the top college coach of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Leach interviewed for the University of Washington head coaching job, which was vacated by Tyrone Willingham. ESPN reported that Leach withdrew his name from the coaching search following his interview. Auburn, where Tommy Tuberville resigned, has also been rumored to have contacted Leach. In an interview with the Associated Press, Tech quarterback Graham Harrell stated that there is a "great chance" Leach could leave. Harrell noted that Leach may leave for a newer challenge. After Leach did not take the Washington job, Harrell retracted his statements and believed Leach will remain the Red Raiders' coach.
Tech athletic director Gerald Myers has indicated that he will give a raise to Leach before Tech's bowl game. Leach and the university settled on a 5-year extension worth $12.7 million, after months of negotiations over the clauses of the contract.
Head coaching recordItalics indicate current record.
Notable accomplishments
Texas Tech
- 9 consecutive winning seasons
- 7 consecutive seasons with at least 8 wins
- 4 seasons with at least 9 wins
- 1 season with 11 wins
- 9 consecutive bowl appearances
- 5 bowl wins (most by any individual coach in the history of the program)
- 4 seasons completed with team ranked in the Top 25
- 18–9 record against in-state conference rivals Baylor, Texas, and Texas A&M
- 47–10 record at Jones AT&T Stadium, home of the Texas Tech Red Raider football team
- 2008 AP Big 12 Coach of the Year
- 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year
- Coached 1 Fred Biletnikoff Award (Best Wide Receiver) winner: Michael Crabtree (two-time winner)
- Coached 1 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Best Senior Quarterback) winner: Graham Harrell
- Coached 1 Mosi Tatupu Award (Best Kick Returner) winner: Wes Welker
- Coached 3 Sammy Baugh Trophy (Outstanding Quarterback) winners: Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, and Graham Harrell
- More than 150 NCAA, Big 12 and school records broken as Texas Tech's head coach
- Four NCAA, 42 SEC, and 116 school records broken as Kentucky's offensive coordinator
See also
External links
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