Mike Leach’s death mourned by college football world
By Ian Levy
![Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach answers questions on the main stage in the Hyatt Regency during SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, July 21, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Sec Media Days Mississippi State](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fab2aadfa8175b975dc6760db757140d18f65a920b38497b0f269b8d5c879a822.jpg "Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach answers questions on the main stage in the Hyatt Regency during SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, July 21, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Sec Media Days Mississippi State")
The college football world came together Tuesday morning to mourn the passing of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach.
This morning, Mississippi State announced that head football coach Mike Leach had passed away. This came after news broke on Sunday that Leach had been hospitalized for a health issue, later revealed to be a heart attack.
Leach spent 21 seasons as the head coach of Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, amassing a 158-107 career record. He was remembered not just for his tactical brilliance and revolutionary air-raid offense but for his enormous coaching tree and his legacy as a kind and creative coach always willing to try something new.
As you would expect, the players, coaches and media members who played for, worked with and covered Leach took to social media to remember their friend and mentor.
Former and current players remember Mike Leach
Prayers to the Leach family!🙏🏽🙏🏽 True legend of the game!
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 13, 2022
Statement from Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury on the passing of Mike Leach, who was the head coach at Texas Tech during Kingsbury’s record-setting career as a QB there: pic.twitter.com/yleLkRHIOK
— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) December 13, 2022
I was in 1st grade when Graham threw the ball to Crabtree against Texas. Thank you for giving me a chance as a 17 year old. From Wazzu, to Mississippi State I will never forget everything you taught me and the relationship we had. I will see you again someday coach. #RIP pic.twitter.com/2gBYxkKRAj
— Will Rogers (@Wrogers__2) December 13, 2022
R.I.P Mike Leach 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) December 13, 2022
RIP Coach Mike Leach 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— DeMarcus Van Dyke (@Coach_DVD) December 13, 2022
So sad to hear of Mike Leach’s passing. Praying for his family and loved ones.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 13, 2022
By all accounts one of the greatest guys in the sport. He will be missed. #RIP pic.twitter.com/HkawPCpFid
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) December 13, 2022
I never played under coach Mike Leach but I respected his philosophy towards the game growing up… RIP COACH you was apart of the birth of how the game is played today 🙏🏿
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 13, 2022
Former and current coaches remember Mike Leach
Coach-
— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) December 13, 2022
You will certainly be missed, but your impact on so many will live on-
Thankful for every moment. You changed my life and so many others.
All of our prayers are with Sharon & the Leach family-
Rest In Peace my friend🙏 pic.twitter.com/C43e2MZvBB
Was so excited to be able to have Grey and Hays meet Coach Leach. The man who’s responsible for myself and so many others having the opportunities that we currently have. Thank you for believing in us. Thoughts, prayers, and our love for him and his family. pic.twitter.com/Fu6aSRvNe0
— Sonny Cumbie (@SCumbie_LaTech) December 12, 2022
Heartbroken. Prayers for the entire Leach family and @HailStateFB pic.twitter.com/pluR0EMCDN
— Josh Heupel (@coachjoshheupel) December 13, 2022
Literally lost for words. @Coach_Leach gave me an opportunity to come back to my alma mater to coach and I’ll forever be grateful for that. Always showed me so much love and respect since the first day we met. I’ll miss you coach and thank you for everything 💔🕊️ #HailState pic.twitter.com/q60x8w8HPH
— Taveze Calhoun (@Calhoun__23) December 13, 2022
College football media remember Mike Leach
One of the best to ever. RIP. https://t.co/UbF9eN81XM
— Paul Sabin (@SabinAnalytics) December 13, 2022
I hope every person in that stadium on Jan 2 has a cowbell. https://t.co/vlNtHxLeV4
— Ashley Adamson (@AdamsonAshley) December 13, 2022
This was Mike Leach. A wonderful dude. https://t.co/tcI4X9D5nP
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) December 13, 2022
RIP Coach Leach. A true original. We will miss you. https://t.co/64b3UBNUXy
— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) December 13, 2022
Mike Leach was a true original. The most telling piece of his impact came the last few days when the entire coaching community seemed to come to his side. Just a very sad day for the sport.
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) December 13, 2022
There's no one even remotely like Leach. He was brilliant. He could be hillarious. He could be maddening. His influence on football & coaching is truly remarkable. He didn’t just change college football. He changed FOOTBALL. Texas HS. 7 on 7. Bill Belichick’s Patriots. Everything
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 13, 2022
Mike Leach invited me down to his Key West home before his first year at Washington State. A walking tour that lasted 8 hours, 5 miles and a few adult beverages later I got to my hotel room and asked myself, "What just happened?" I will always remember The Pirate.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 13, 2022
"[Mike Leach was] the smartest coach I've ever been around. ... He's one of the truly irreplaceable figures in the history of the game. Records are one thing ... but the legacy that one leaves behind is what I heard from his many friends and coaching colleagues."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 13, 2022
—@finebaum pic.twitter.com/JwIamgWCnW
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