Report: Mike Leach working on deal to become Tennessee head coach
By Jack Crosby
The Tennessee coaching search may be coming to an end soon, and the conclusion of it all may end up being Mike Leach in Knoxville, it seems.
The search for the next Tennessee Volunteers head football coach has been a beautiful disaster. They have somehow seemed to flub every chance they’ve had at making a hire to replace the fired Butch Jones in one way or another, but the drama could all be coming to an end soon. And this saga looks like it may end up with Mike Leach in Knoxville.
According to a report on Thursday night from the NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, Leach and the Volunteers brass are working on a deal that would make the current Washington State Cougars head coach their next leader. Per the report, the news of Leach coming to Knoxville to lead the Volunteers program could be dropped as early as Friday.
After leaving Texas Tech in 2009 under some controversial circumstances, Leach took over out west in Washington State. With the Cougars and his air raid offense, he has compiled a 38-37 record. Just this past season, Washington State finished with a 9-3 record, which included an upset of USC in Pullman, and was in contention for the Pac-12 North title right up until the Apple Cup against Washington last weekend.
All things considered, Tennessee ending up with Leach would sort of be a win for the program considering what a horrific mess this search this has been. Last Sunday, it all began when they seemed seconds from hiring Greg Schiano before backlash from most everyone shut it down. Then, it was a series of being turned down by most other candidates this week, including them spending an entire day being used by Mike Gundy who decided to stay at Oklahoma State — like he normally does.
But, now, it looks as if the nightmare is coming to a close and a pirate may be making his way to attempt to resurrect the Tennessee program.