Mike Leach, innovative college football coach, dies at 61
Mike Leach, the gruff, pioneering and unfiltered college football coach who helped revolutionize the game with the Air Raid offense, died following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi
State said Tuesday. He was 61.
Leach, who was in his third season as head coach at Mississippi State, fell ill Sunday at his home in Starkville, Mississippi. He was treated at a local hospital before being airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He died Monday night.
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity,” the family said in a statement issued by Mississippi
State. “We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.”
In 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach went 158-107.
News of him falling gravely ill swept through college football the past few days and left many who knew him stunned, hoping and praying for Leach’s recovery under grim circumstances.
His impact on all levels of football — from high school to the NFL — over the last two decades runs deep and will continue for years to come.
“Mike’s keen intellect and unvarnished candor made him one of the nation’s true coaching legends,” Mississippi State President Mark Keenum said.
Leach was known for his pass-happy offense, wide-ranging interests — he wrote a book about Native American leader Geronimo, had a passion for pirates and taught a class about insurgent warfare — and rambling, off-the-cuff news conferences.
“Coach’s motivational speeches are always the same,” said offensive lineman Daniel Loper, who played for Leach at Texas Tech. “He tells very long stories, and you’re never sure what they mean. But he’s a genius.”
NBA’S MVP TROPHY RENAMED FOR JORDAN
The NBA MVP award has been renamed The Michael Jordan Trophy, the league announced Tuesday. Michael Jordan is a five-time MVP, so he has five trophies named for Maurice Podoloff — the league’s first commissioner. But after six decades of the award bearing Podoloff’s name, the NBA decided the time was right to rebrand.
The Jordan trophy will stand 23.6 inches tall and weigh 23.6 pounds — nods to his jersey number and six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls — but is not a depiction of him. The chairman of the Charlotte Hornets approved the design, one that symbolizes someone reaching for excellence, but did not want the statue to be of himself. He also declined a request for comment through the NBA.
NBA elsewhere: Paul George scored 26 points,
Kawhi Leonard had season highs of 25 points and nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 113-93. Leonard also had six assists in one of his best all-around games of a season that has been interrupted at times while he eases his way back from ACL surgery that cost him all of last season.
Jaylen Brown scored 21 points to lead the Celtics. … Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Kyrie Irving had 24 and the well-rested Nets pulled away for a 112-100 win against the overmatched Washington Wizards. The Nets have rebounded from earlyseason turmoil to win eight of nine under new coach Jacque Vaughn.
ETC.
Soccer: Fox will keep broadcasting Major League Soccer games in the U.S. as part of a fouryear agreement, ending the run of ESPN and ABC, which had carried matches since the league launched in 1996. MLS chose only one television partner in the U.S. due to its 10-year partnership with Apple that begins next season.
NHL: Filip Chytil scored 2:15 into overtime and the New York Rangers rallied to beat New Jersey 4-3 on Monday night, snapping the Devils’ 11game road win streak.
Vincent Trochek had a goal and an assist, Kaapo Kakko and Chris Kreider
also scored, and
K’Andre Miller had two assists for the Rangers, who came back from two two-goal deficits to get their fourth straight win.
Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 shots. The Rangers are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
MLB: Free agent righthander Ross Stripling reached agreement on a $25 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. He expects to be a starter in a rotation led by Logan