Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mike Leach (American football coach)

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mike Leach (American football coach) made an impact.

Mike Leach, nicknamed "the Pirate," was a prominent American college football coach known for pioneering the "Air Raid" offense. He achieved significant success at Texas Tech, becoming their all-time winningest coach. He also coached at Washington State and Mississippi State. Leach earned recognition as a two-time national coach of the year and three-time conference coach of the year. His innovative offensive strategies and charismatic personality made him a notable figure in college football.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1987: Assistant Coach at Cal Poly

In 1987, Mike Leach began his coaching career as an assistant at Cal Poly.

1988: Assistant Coach at College of the Desert

In 1988, Mike Leach worked as an assistant at College of the Desert, furthering his coaching career.

1989: Offensive Coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan University

In 1989, Mike Leach joined Hal Mumme's staff at Iowa Wesleyan University as offensive coordinator, beginning a partnership known for developing the air raid offense.

1989: Head Coach of Pori Bears

In 1989, Mike Leach served as head coach of the Pori Bears in the American Football Association of Finland.

1992: Moves to Valdosta State

In 1992, Mike Leach and Hal Mumme moved to Valdosta State to continue their partnership.

1995: Copper Bowl Win

In 1995, Texas Tech beat the Air Force Falcons in the Copper Bowl, and then they had their first postseason win since that in 2002.

1996: Remains at Valdosta State

In 1996, Mike Leach remained at Valdosta State.

1997: Moves to Kentucky

In 1997, Mike Leach and Hal Mumme moved to Kentucky to continue their partnership and develop the air raid offense.

1997: First time sweeping in-state rivals

In 1997, Texas Tech first swept its in-state conference rivals Baylor, Texas, and Texas A&M, and then they achieved this again in 2002.

1998: Remains at Kentucky

In 1998, Mike Leach remained at Kentucky.

1998: Best start since 1998

In 1998, Tech achieved their best start since 1998, and then in 2005 they started their season with a 6-0 record, their best start since that.

1998: Oklahoma's Offense Ranking

In 1998, before Mike Leach joined the staff, Oklahoma's offense ranked 11th in the Big 12 Conference.

1999: Joined Oklahoma coaching staff

In 1999, Mike Leach joined the Oklahoma staff under head coach Bob Stoops, improving the team's offense to first in the Big 12 Conference.

2002: Nine-win Season and Tangerine Bowl victory

In 2002, Mike Leach led the Red Raiders to a nine-win season, swept in-state rivals, and won the Tangerine Bowl against Clemson, marking their first postseason win since 1995.

2004: Upset of California in Holiday Bowl

In 2004, Mike Leach's Red Raiders, led by Sonny Cumbie, upset the then-4th ranked California in the Holiday Bowl.

2004: Come-from-Behind Win over TCU

In 2004, Mike Leach's Texas Tech had a come-from-behind 70–35 win over TCU after trailing 21–0.

2005: Red Raiders' 6-0 Start

In 2005, Mike Leach coached the Red Raiders to a 6-0 start, their best since 1998.

2005: Come-from-Behind Win over Kansas State

In 2005, Mike Leach's Red Raiders had a come-from-behind win over Kansas State, winning 59-20 after trailing 13-10.

2006: QB Graham Harrell Improvment

In 2006, Mike Leach's Red Raiders showed steady improvement beginning with the game against Iowa State.

2007: Nine-win Season

In 2007, Mike Leach led the Red Raiders to another nine-win season.

2007: Coaching the South Team

In 2007, Mike Leach was chosen to coach the South team during the inaugural Inta Juice North–South All-Star Classic game.

2008: 76-39 Record with the Red Raiders

By the end of the 2008 season, Mike Leach had a 76–39 record with the Red Raiders and was the all-time winningest coach in postseason play in Tech football history.

2008: Eleven-win Season

In 2008, Mike Leach led the Red Raiders to an eleven-win season.

February 2009: Contract Extension with Texas Tech

In February 2009, Mike Leach signed a three-year contract extension with Texas Tech that would have paid him at least $2.5 million per year through 2013.

October 31, 2009: Tied Winningest Coach

On October 31, 2009, after the Red Raiders' win over Kansas, Mike Leach tied his predecessor Spike Dykes as the all-time winningest coach in Texas Tech's history.

November 21, 2009: Passed Dykes as Winningest Coach

On November 21, 2009, Mike Leach passed Spike Dykes to become the all-time winningest coach in Texas Tech's history with a win over Oklahoma.

2009: Missed bonus

In 2009, Mike Leach was going to miss an $800,000 tenure bonus and over $1,700,000 for contractual guaranteed income for 2009.

January 8, 2010: Leach files suit against Texas Tech

On January 8, 2010, Mike Leach formally filed suit against Texas Tech for wrongful termination and other claims, alleging he was fired without cause and defamed to prevent him from being hired elsewhere.

May 2010: District Judge dismisses most of Leach's claims

In May 2010, a District Judge dismissed all but one of Leach's claims against Texas Tech, citing sovereign immunity. However, the claim for breach of contract was allowed to proceed. Adam James admitted he found the closet incident 'funny'.

August 2010: Leach Joins CBS College Sports Network

In August 2010, Mike Leach joined CBS College Sports Network as a color analyst, working alongside play-by-play announcer Roger Twibell.

2010: Leach co-hosts College Football Playbook

In 2010, Mike Leach joined Jack Arute to co-host "College Football Playbook" on SiriusXM College Sports Nation Channel 91, which aired weekdays.

2010: Leach Considered for Head Coaching Vacancies

In 2010, Mike Leach was considered a candidate for head coaching vacancies at the University of Miami, University of Maryland, and University of Minnesota. He was a frontrunner for the Maryland job but the administration decided to hire Randy Edsall instead.

2010: Firing from Texas Tech

In 2010, Mike Leach was fired from Texas Tech for "a defiant act of insubordination" after refusing to apologize to Adam James.

November 30, 2011: Leach Agrees to Terms with Washington State

On November 30, 2011, Mike Leach agreed to terms with Washington State, starting as coach for the 2012 season. His five-year contract made him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Pac-12.

2011: Leach Releases Autobiographical Book

In 2011, Mike Leach released his autobiographical book, "Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and in Life", which debuted at number six on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life

Check it on Amazon

February 2012: Texas Supreme Court denies Leach's petition

In February 2012, the Texas Supreme Court denied Mike Leach's petition for review regarding his case against Texas Tech. Following the denial, Texas Tech's attorney stated that the court affirmed the university's position on the law and the facts.

March 2012: Movie script hinted based on Leach's firing

In March 2012, Peter Berg, creator of the Friday Night Lights series, hinted that he had written a movie script for the characters from the TV series that is based on Leach's firing from Texas Tech.

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2012: Leach begins coaching at Washington State

Mike Leach began coaching at Washington State for the 2012 season after agreeing to terms with Washington State on November 30, 2011.

November 18, 2013: Leach Receives Contract Extension

On November 18, 2013, Mike Leach received a 2-year contract extension after leading the Washington State Cougars to their best record since 2006.

2013: Cougars invited to New Mexico Bowl

In 2013, Mike Leach led WSU to a 6–6 regular season that had them bowl eligible for the first time in a decade. The Cougars were invited to the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, losing to the Colorado State Rams. Leach received a pay raise for the Cougars' 2013 performance.

2014: Cougars Regress to 3-9 Record

The 2014 season saw the Cougars regress to a 3–9 record. The Cougars defeated Portland State, Utah and Oregon State.

2015: Cougars Have Breakthrough Season

In 2015, the Cougars, led by Mike Leach, had their breakthrough season with a 9–4 record and were invited to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, where they beat the Miami Hurricanes. This was the best Cougar record since 2003.

2016: Cougars Finish Season 8-5

In 2016, led by Luke Falk, Washington State rallied off eight consecutive wins before dropping their final two games. They landed in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego where they lost to Minnesota of the Big Ten. WSU finished the season with an overall record of 8–5.

2017: Cougars Finish 9-4 Overall

In 2017, Washington State was 6–3 in the Pac-12 and 9–3 overall. They were again invited to the Holiday Bowl where they lost to Michigan State and finished 9–4 overall.

2018: Cougars Win School Record-Tying Ten Games

In 2018, Leach recruited graduate transfer Gardner Minshew and the Cougars won a school record-tying ten games. They were invited to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio where they won for a school record 11th win.

2019: Leach Co-Taught Seminar at Washington State

During the spring of 2019, Mike Leach co-taught a five-week seminar at Washington State, "Insurgent Warfare and Football Strategies," alongside Washington politician Michael Baumgartner.

2019: Cougars Finish Season 6-7

In 2019, Mike Leach led Washington State to a 6–7 record. The Cougars lost to unranked UCLA and ended the regular season with Leach's seventh consecutive Apple Cup loss to Washington.

January 9, 2020: Leach Agrees to be Head Coach of Mississippi State

On January 9, 2020, Mike Leach agreed to be the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, with a reported annual salary of $5 million.

2021: Bulldogs Qualify for Liberty Bowl

In the 2021 regular season, Leach led the Bulldogs to a 7–5 record. They qualified for the Liberty Bowl, where they lost to Texas Tech.

2022: Bulldogs Record Ranked Victories

In the 2022 regular season, Mike Leach led the Bulldogs to an 8–4 record. The Bulldogs recorded ranked victories over Texas A&M and Ole Miss. Leach died before the team's bowl game.