Josh Heupel, the coach of Tennessee football, said of Mike Leach, “He saw something in me when no one else did.”
Reflecting on a pivotal start to his career, Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel considered the
passing of his mentor and former associate, Mike Leach.
Leach advised Heupel as the Sooners’ quarterback when he transferred from Utah’s Snow College, while he was Bob Stoops’ offensive coordinator for Oklahoma football in 1999. Heupel kept playing well for the Sooners even after Leach left the next year to take a position as head coach at Texas Tech. The 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up from Aberdeen, South Dakota, guided Oklahoma to a national title victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl of 2001.
Heupel and Leach’s bond grew in the SEC as coaches. Following the news of Leach’s passing on Tuesday, the Tennessee football coach pondered on their friendship and acknowledged that Leach had a significant influence on his life.
In a statement, Heupel said, “I am heartbroken on the passing of Coach Leach.” “He provided a young player from Utah’s Snow College an opportunity to play major college football in 1999. When
others failed to see what was in me, he did. I am appreciative of Coach Leach’s influence on my life, both in terms of my career and personal life. His offensive vision and attitude were innovative for
his time and still influence how the game is played now. A unique individual off the pitch, he was a master storyteller, a wise man, and someone who genuinely cared about his former teammates and
coaches. Over the years, I’ve cherished our friendship. My sincere sympathies are with Leach’s family, his spouse Sharon, his grandchildren, and the whole football programme at Mississippi State.”
Leach spent 21 seasons as a head coach, holding positions at Washington State and Texas Tech prior to joining the Bulldogs in January 2020. His overall record was 158-107, with three seasons of 19-17 play at Mississippi State.
According to MSU, the third-year Bulldogs coach passed away on Monday night following complications from a heart ailment. Prior to Leach’s hospitalisation, defensive coordinator Zach Arnett was named Mississippi State president Mark Keenum’s interim coach by interim athletics director Bracky Brett.
Leave a Reply