American football coach Mike Leach, who popularized the air raid offence, died at the age of 61 following a heart condition.

The Mississippi State football coach was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson where he died on Monday night, December 12, due to heart complications.

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His family said, “Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather.” They further added “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.”

Who was Mike Leach?

Michael Charles Leach or Mike Leach was an American college football coach who was also the Mississippi State University coach from 2020. He was born on March 9, 1961, in Susanville in California, USA, and died at the age of 61 on December 12, 2022, in Mississippi University’s Medical Center in Jackson. He was the oldest of six siblings.

Leach completed his schooling in 1979 from Cody High School, Cody, United States. He then received his bachelor’s degree in 1983 and in 1986, he earned the degree of Juris Doctor, a standard degree required to practice law in the United States. He also completed a Master’s degree in 1988 in Sports Science and sports coaching.

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He began his career in coaching in 1987 at Cal Poly and College of the Desert. He was also the head coach of the American Football Association of Finland in 1989.

As Kentucky’s offensive coordinator, he broke 116 school records. He was the first head coach who won against a top-10-ranked team on his coaching debut. Leach was considered the mastermind as he helped in the NCAA record-setting air raid offence. He has broken many schools and NCAA records as a head coach.

Leach was married to Sharon Leach for about thirty years and has four children and three grandchildren.

Mike Leach never played football as a player but flourished as a coach and broke numerous records in his career.