[ad_1]
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Mississippi — Mississippi State coach Mike Leach has died after struggling what the college referred to as a “private well being challenge” at residence on Sunday.
Leach was 61.
The video above is from preliminary reporting about Leach’s hospitalization on Dec. 12, 2022.
The longtime soccer coach was hospitalized in crucial situation on Monday.
In response to the college, the problem at his residence in Starkville pressured him to be airlifted to a medical facility in Jackson.
Leach was admitted Sunday to the College of Mississippi Medical Heart, about 125 miles from the Mississippi State campus.
UMMC spokesman Marc Rolph mentioned Monday in a textual content message to AP that Leach was listed in crucial situation. He was initially handled at Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville, the college mentioned.
“Mike’s household is with him and appreciates the overwhelming expressions of affection and help for the coach, but in addition requests that their household’s privateness be revered right now,” the varsity mentioned Monday.
As information of Leach’s sickness broke on Monday, his identify started to pattern on Twitter with tributes from individuals who knew him, labored with him or had been followers.
“My ideas are with my mentor, my colleague and, extra importantly, my good friend, Mike Leach,” mentioned College of Houston head soccer coach Dana Holgorsen, calling Leach a fighter with an unimaginable spirit.
Leach was in his third season at Mississippi State, with a 19-17 report. He acknowledged having a bout with pneumonia late within the season that was inflicting a persistent cough, nevertheless it was unclear whether or not his current sickness was associated to his hospitalization.
“Our ideas and prayers are with Mike Leach, his spouse Sharon, their household and the docs treating him,” Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned in an announcement earlier than Leach’s passing. “Mike’s infectious character and fervour for the sport have impacted the game in so many constructive methods throughout his profession.”
Leach, recognized for his prolific Air Raid offenses, is 158-107 in 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State.
Texas Tech posted on Twitter Monday, “Swing Your Sword. The ideas and prayers of Purple Raider Nation are with Coach Leach and his household right now!”
He earned the nickname “The Pirate,” a reference seen clearly in Tech’s tribute.
Leach was the winningest coach in Texas Tech historical past with 84 victories from 2000 to 2009 when he was fired.
College officers let him go for his alleged mistreatment of a participant struggling a concussion. On the time, Texas Tech officers claimed they fired Leach with trigger and owed him nothing. Leach and his attorneys contended that Tech owed him tens of millions of {dollars} for what he was due below the phrases of his contract.
Leach confronted his outdated crew for the primary time in Dec. 2021, when the Mississippi State Bulldogs performed Tech within the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Regardless of the authorized battle, Leach said in 2021 that he loved his Red Raider Nation.
“I like Texas Tech,” Leach mentioned on the time. “Being at Texas Tech had been a number of the finest years of my life. The Texas Tech followers are completely incredible and are on my facet. The Tech followers want to see this factor reconciled and I’ve no downside with them. The most effective soccer years at Tech had been our 10 years there and we have to have fun that collectively. The crooks on the prime had been the issue.”
“Ideas and prayers for Coach Leach and household. A one among a sort good friend and competitor,” mentioned Kevin Sumlin, former head soccer coach on the College of Houston and Texas A&M.
Lincoln Riley, USC’s head coach, mentioned, “Prayers for my good good friend.”
Riley labored with Leach when the latter employed him onto his employees at Texas Tech when he was simply 23 years outdated as a full-time extensive receivers coach.
He shared a narrative about Leach in The Gamers’ Tribune in 2017, saying, “Coach Leach was the primary one that actually pushed me into teaching.”
“Coach Leach is the sort of man who is not afraid to march to the beat of his personal drum. One of many issues I beloved about him at Texas Tech was if he thought one thing might assist this system, he was keen to disregard the established order and pursue it. Easy as that,” Riley shared within the article.
Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett has been positioned in control of the soccer crew by Mississippi State President Mark Keenum and interim athletic director Bracky Brett because it prepares for an look within the ReliaQuest Bowl in opposition to Illinois on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida.
The Related Press and ESPN contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2022 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
[ad_2]
Source link
