Mike Leach, one of college football’s most distinctive personalities and most innovative offensive minds, died Monday night of heart-related complications, his family announced. He was 61.
Leach had recently completed his third season as Mississippi State’s coach and was preparing his team for the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois on Jan. 2 in Tampa. He suffered a heart-related medical emergency at his Starkville home Sunday morning before being airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
According to school officials and those close to the coach, Leach had dealt with pneumonia-like conditions during the 2022 football season, severe enough that several staff members suggested he step away for a few days. He refused. While continuing to battle a serious cough, those same sources said his condition had significantly improved over the past couple weeks.
