Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart Give Statement on the Passing of State's Mike Leach
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ATHENS - The Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart called Mississippi State coach Mike Leach a man who changed college football.
Leach passed away Monday night at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, following complications from a heart condition. He was 61.
“Rest in peace to a man who changed this game and so many lives within it,” Kirby tweeted Tuesday with a photo of him with Leach before the No. 1 Bulldogs’ 45-19 win over State in November.
The Leach family put out a statement on the passing of the late head coach saying: “The Leach family said: "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. 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."
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Georgia football added this statement about the passing of Leach:
“We are extremely saddened by the loss of Coach Leach. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the entire Mississippi State community during this difficult time.”
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Leach, who was named Mississippi State's 34th head football coach on January 9, 2020, was finishing his third season in Starkville and 21st as a head coach. Forever a college football icon, he leaves an incredible legacy as a husband, father, friend and leader of young men.
The oldest of six siblings, Leach and his wife Sharon shared four children: Janeen, Kimberly, Cody and Kiersten.
Born in Susanville, California to Frank and Sandra Leach, Mike was raised in Cody, Wyoming. After graduating with honors from BYU in 1983 where he played rugby, Leach earned a master's degree from the U.S. Sports Academy and his Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University, where he graduated in the top one-third of his class.
For nearly four decades, Leach had an unmatched impact on the game of football including thousands of student-athletes, coaches and staff. He was a two-time national coach of the year, three-time Power 5 conference coach of the year and the mastermind behind the NCAA record-setting "Air Raid" offense.
The accomplishments for Leach in his 21 years as a head coach were long and distinguished. A proven winner who established a culture of excellence at every stop of his career, Leach compiled a 158-107 (.596) record, guided his squads to 19 bowl games, produced seven seasons of at least nine victories, captured two conference division titles, became the winningest coach in Texas Tech history and set school records for bowl appearances at both Texas Tech (10) and Washington State (6). During 10 of those 21 seasons, Leach's passing attack led the FBS – six at Texas Tech and four at Washington State.