I wish I could write what most have already done in regards to Mike Leach. He was philosopher coach who lived in his own kingdom. No coach was like him before or probably after. In a profession where just about every head coach has the personality and intelligence of burnt toast, Mike stood out.
He was opinionated, well read, and seemed to be interested in just about everything that came his way. He was special and he was happy to let everyone know it.
I think my admiration of him came when he was at Texas Tech and running roughshod over the Huskers. It was highly frustrating for this team with half the talent could event entertain the thought of going up against college football bluebloods year in and year out. But, he did and did it well for the most part. He totally changed college football and football as a whole for the better.
Yeah, it infuriated me at first but over time I came to really admire his coaching and views on the sport. Then, I started to get to know the coach. He turned out to be a renaissance man. Most coaches stick to what they know and rarely let anyone know what else they are thinking. To be honest, I don’t think most coaches have many thoughts outside of football but that’s a conversation for another time.
Mike leach was not like this. He was what I think most people should be, unapologetically curious.
Mike wasn’t perfect and didn’t hide that. We live in a world where we shun anyone who has a different opinion or slightly falls from grace. It’s probably why we don’t really see or know much about many of the coaches today. There’s no real benefit of doing so. Mike was human and it seemed like he didn’t care to be an infallible stoic character that walks across campus that we see so much of.
I honestly wanted him to coach Nebraska. It would have been a trip but I also know most of the fanbase would not have put up with it. There also might be some issues with the air raid in November but I think he would have figured it out.
So, I’m going to stop here. Maybe someday I will be able to write more about the coach. Instead, there is a collection of articles I have pulled up from the past 20 years that gives you a better idea of what Mike was all about.
Thanks for living coach, we are all better off because of it.
The Detroit Lions Are Just Getting Started – The Ringer Dan Campbell, Jared Goff and Co. are 6-7 and have a legit shot at making the playoffs. But whether they get to the postseason or not isn’t the point—this team is built for the long term.
Coach Leach Goes Deep, Very Deep – The New York Times 7:02 . . . 7:01 . . . 7:00 . . . It was still ordinary time. The seconds ticked off the digital clock on the locker-room wall. A smell: the acrid odor of vomit. They were still ordinary college football players, and a few of them had lost their pregame meals to a war of nerves. Side by side at their lockers the players sat, silently, almost penitently, stomachs churning, waiting for their coach to show up and to make the place a lot less ordinary.
» The Pirate and His Pupil After butting heads for two seasons, Mike Leach and Connor Halliday have finally found common ground — and air. Now, the passing records are starting to fall.
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