Mike Leach Last Video 24hrs Before Death

millions of athletes, students, coaches, fans, family and friends for decades.

"Mike was an innovator, pioneer and visionary. He was a college football icon, a coaching legend but an even better person. We are all better for having known Mike Leach. The thoughts and prayers of Mississippi State University and the entire Bulldog family are with his wife Sharon, his children and the entire Leach family."

Known for his prolific Air Raid offenses, Leach was 158-107 in his 21 seasons as a head coach. He was also known for his quirky personality, dry wit, and penchant for talking about history, business and politics (and, really, just about anything else) as comfortably as he did quarterbacks making the right reads and receivers running the right routes.

Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, who played three seasons under Leach at Texas Tech and was the Red Raiders' head coach from 2013 to 2018, said Tuesday that the sport of football "was better because of Mike Leach and is far less interesting without him."

"There is no way I would be where I am today if not for Mike Leach and everything he taught me about the game," Kingsbury said. "Truly one of the most innovative offensive minds in football, he was more than a coach. He was a mentor, a friend and one of the most special people I've ever met."

Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement that he is "deeply saddened" by Leach's "unexpected passing."


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