College soccer’s most-beloved pirate, Mike Leach, died Monday evening at age 61 following issues from a coronary heart situation. Leach was a longtime high-level-conference head coach, beginning with 10 seasons at Texas Tech, and eight on the helm of Washington State, earlier than spending his final three at Mississippi State. The college confirmed Leach had suffered a “personal health issue” at his house on Sunday and remained in crucial situation Monday morning.
Leach could be seen main a Bulldogs apply on Saturday prepping for the ReliaQuest Bowl towards Illinois on Jan. 2 in images posted to social media.
Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett was named the interim coach of the Bulldogs on Sunday. Long-term plans for the head-coaching emptiness haven’t been introduced because the distinctive challenges of a sitting faculty soccer head coach passing away are nonetheless of their early phases. Leach was the second lively faculty soccer head coach to die over the previous few days as Highland Community College’s Jared Powers handed unexpectedly on Saturday.
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at (University of Mississippi Medical Center) as a final act of charity,” the Leach household mentioned in an announcement to Mississippi State. “We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.”
Starting in 1989, Leach spent 10 seasons as an offensive coordinator underneath Hal Mumme the place the duo set the inspiration for the air raid offense. Those explosive unfold offenses labored at three colleges — Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, and Kentucky. Leach led his groups to bowl appearances in all however two seasons as a head coach and garnered an total report of 158-107. Leach remains to be the winningest coach in Texas Tech soccer historical past.
Fellow coaches and different sports activities figures paid tribute to Leach on social media.