Celebs, sports icons and SEC powerhouses mourn death of MSU head coach Mike Leach
Celebrities, sports icons, college football coaches and others are mourning the loss of legendary Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach.
Leach died Tuesday following complications from a heart condition after falling ill the day before in his Starkville home.
The 61-year-old is known for his unorthodox “coach speak,” his humor and wide-ranging knowledge of various topics that he uniquely combines with football, such as the Insurgent Warfare And Football Strategy Class he helps teach.
A memorial to Leach already lights up the Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.
“Swing your sword,” the Mississippi State Bulldogs football program tweeted Tuesday morning.
News of Leach’s death shook the sports community across the U.S. with many taking to Twitter to share their memories of the iconic coach. Here are the highlights.
Celebrities, sports anchors remember Mike Leach
NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled the time he got to drink beers with Leach.
“Such a cool dude. RIP coach,” he tweeted.
ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler called Leach “one of one” and said college football will miss him.
“Very bright, wise, curious, quirky, interested in many things. I’ll recall our many unique conversations over the years: always a blend of funny and deep,” Fowler tweeted.
NFL.com’s Ian Rappaport said Leach was the best.
“Just a unique, awesome person” he tweeted.
Athletes, football coaches, SEC powerhouses mourn Leach’s death
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu played for Leach at Washington State University.
“Lost a Great one today!! RIP Coach Leach,” he tweeted.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel offered his prayers for Leach’s family and the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.
“In 1999, he gave a kid out of Snow College in Utah a shot at major college football. He saw something in me when no one else did,” the Vols head coach said.
LSU head football coach Brian Kelly said: “We have lost the most transformational mind in football in my generation and the best press conferences you will ever Google.”
Alabama head coach Nick Saban released a statement shortly after MSU announced the news of Leach’s death.
“Mike Leach was a friend, and we are deeply saddened by his unexpected passing. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Mike over the last several years. I never knew quite where our conversations were going but they always made me smile,” Saban said.
Today is a sad day in the world of college football,” UNC head coach Mack Brown said. “Mike Leach was an innovative football mind, who kept us on our toes.”
Washington State and Texas Tech football programs also offered their condolences.
Washington State is mourning the loss of a legend and said Leach will forever be a Cougar. “#SwingYourSword,” the team tweeted.
USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley shared her condolences to Leach family and Mississippi State.
“Thank you @Coach_Leach for you serving the sports world! God be with the Leach family…hold them in your embrace for as long as they need you,” Staley posted on Twitter.
Sun Herald reporter Scott Watkins contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 10:56 AM.
