One of the most successful and innovative coaches in the history of college football, Mike Leach terrorized defenses with his iconic “ Air Raid” offense. He made his coaching debut in 1987 but his most important collaboration may have come in 1989 when he joined Hal Mumme’s staff at Iowa Wesleyan and the roots of his hurry up, spread offensive philosophy took hold. He was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kentucky and Oklahoma before his big break came in 2000 and he was hired as head coach at Texas Tech University. From 2000 through the 2008 season, Texas Tech won at least 8 games a year with five QBs and averaged more than 530 yards of offense per game. Under Leach’s Air Raid, Micheal Crabtree would become the first WR to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award two times (2007, 2008). Leach also had 3 Sammy Baugh Trophy winners with Kliff Kingsbury (2002), B.J. Symons (2003), and Graham Harrell (2007). Harrel would also win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2008.
During his time in Lubbock, Leach led the Red Raiders to 10 consecutive winning seasons and nine bowl appearances with five wins. Leach left Texas Tech as the winningest football coach in program history with a record of 84-43. While in Lubbock, Leach was named AP Big 12 Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2008. Leach was awarded the Woody Hayes Trophy by the Touchdown Club of Columbus for the top collegiate coach and the George Munger Award given by the Maxwell Football Club for the NCAA Division I Coach of the Year in 2008 as well. Following his tenure at Texas Tech, Leach coached at Washington State and Mississippi State before passing away tragically in December of 2022. He compiled a career record of 158-107, with 18 bowl game appearances and two conference division titles. Leach was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
