The sports world is mourning the loss of Mike Leach at 61 years old, and many have flooded social media with their favorite memories of the longtime college football coach. One standout comes from 2019, when he broke down each of the Pac-12 mascots.
The hilarious, deadpan presser came during Leach’s eighth and final season at the helm with Washington State. Leach spent the last three seasons as the head coach at Mississippi State. The No. 22 Bulldogs are scheduled to play against Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl at noon ET on Jan. 2, with defensive coordinator Zach Arnett taking over.
The two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year’s first head-coaching gig was his most successful one, as he went 84-43 (.661 winning percentage) with Texas Tech over 10 seasons from 2000 through 2009 and posted a 5-4 record in bowl games. Leach helped lead the Red Raiders to an 11-2 mark and appearance in the Cotton Bowl in 2008, a campaign in which the team reached as high as No. 2 in the AP college football poll and where he was the Big 12 Coach of the Year as well.
He had winning records with the Cougars (55-47) and Bulldogs (19-17) as well and finished his career with a 158-107 mark and 8-9 record in bowl games.
It was reported on Monday that Leach suffered a medical incident at his home on Sunday and was hospitalized in a situation described as “critical.” According to reports on Tuesday, he passed away Monday night after complications related to a heart condition.
The mascots press conference is one of many memorable and entertaining moments from his career. There will certainly never be another Mike Leach.
