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Report: Mike Leach would accept Tennessee job if offered

By Nathaniel Reeves

TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Mike Leach head coach of the Washington State Cougars reacts during the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Mike Leach head coach of the Washington State Cougars reacts during the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football may have found its next head coach if Saturday’s rumor involving Mike Leach is true.

The first major domino of the 2017 coaching carousel fell on Saturday morning, with the UCLA Bruins nabbing Chip Kelly out of brief retirement. That’s only going to increase the pressure on a few high-profile programs still looking for their next head coach, including the Tennessee Volunteers.

Tennessee finally dismissed Butch Jones on Nov. 12 after a blowout loss to Missouri dropped the Volunteers’ record to 4-6 for the season. While the coaching market is crowded with programs like Florida, Nebraska and likely Texas A&M still in the hunt, the Volunteers could make a move soon.

Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach will be one of the top targets for any team with an opening. According to a report by Football Scoop on Saturday afternoon, Leach would accept the Tennessee job if athletic director John Currie made an offer.

If that is, in fact, true, the Volunteers should waste no time hiring Leach, as they are unlikely to attract a better candidate. In 16 seasons between Texas Tech and Washington State, Leach has compiled a 122-79 record, including leading the Red Raiders to No. 2 ranking at one point in 2008. Washington State was mired in a miserable stretch before Leach’s arrival in 2012 and can make the Pac-12 Championship Game with a win over rival Washington on Saturday night.

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Leach has proven he can succeed at two of the hardest Power Five jobs to win at, and could likely do major damage if given better resources at a place like Tennessee. The big question is if he would actually take the job, as Leach doesn’t seem like one to enjoy the media circus and booster drama of the SEC.

The Volunteers will almost certainly give Leach a call before turning to other candidates like Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen during their coaching search.

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