WSU’s Mike Leach headed to Mississippi State
Washington State football coach Mike Leach is leaving to take the open job at Mississippi State.
Mississippi State announced the hiring on its athletic website Thursday.
In the school’s release, athletic director John Cohen said, “Mike Leach is a proven winner who has established a culture of excellence for nearly two decades as a head coach. An offensive genius and two-time national coach of the year, he has a track record of building programs to national prominence with accountability and a blue-collar approach. We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to the Mississippi State family and look forward to watching our football program grow under his leadership.”
ESPN said Leach told his WSU coaching staff of his decision on Thursday morning.
Leach’s time at WSU
Leach has been the Cougars’ coach since 2012, compiling a 55-47 overall record and a 36-36 mark in the Pac-12 conference. He was the conference coach of the year in 2015 and 2018.
The school just announced last month that it had extended his contract through the 2024 season. He was scheduled to make $4 million in 2020.
WSU went to six bowl games in Leach’s eight seasons in Pullman, including last month’s 31-21 loss to Air Force in the Cheez-It Bowl. The loss left the Cougars 6-7 for the 2019 season, their first losing mark since 2014.
Mississippi State controversies
Leach replaces Joe Moorhead, who was fired earlier this month, four days after the Bulldogs’ Music City Bowl loss to Louisville. He was let go after two seasons and some controversy, including 10 players suspended for academic fraud and a fight during a practice that sidelined quarterback Garrett Shrader.
It will be the third head coaching job for Leach. Before arriving at WSU, he coached Texas Tech from 2000-2009. The Red Raiders fired him after an investigation into Leach’s treatment of a player.
Both WSU and Washington will have new coaches next season. Huskies coach Chris Petersen resigned last month and was replaced by assistant Jimmy Lake.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 11:11 AM.