Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach, one of the sport’s true innovators and great characters, died Monday night in Jackson, Mississippi, from complications of a heart condition, the school announced Tuesday morning. He was 61 years old.
Leach, a former head coach at Texas Tech (2000-09) and Washington State (2012-19) before his three-year stay in Starkville, Mississippi, was 158-107 all-time and had the Bulldogs headed to his 19th bowl game in his 21 seasons as an FBS head coach. Leach was hospitalized Sunday after reportedly suffering a heart attack at his home.
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather,” his family said in a statement released Tuesday.