Mississippi State Football Coach Mike Leach Dies After Heart Attack

Mississippi State University head football coach Mike Leach died on Monday following a heart attack. He was 61.

In a statement, Leach's family said: "Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC [University of Mississippi Medical Center] 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."

Leach's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the sports world.

Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum paid tribute in a statement posted on the official website for the school's athletics.

"Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not just over Mississippi State University, but over the entire college football landscape," Keenum said. "Mike's keen intellect and unvarnished candor made him one of the nation's true coaching legends. His passing brings great sadness to our university, to the Southeastern Conference, and to all who loved college football.

"Mike's death also underscores the fragility and uncertainty of our lives. Three weeks ago, Mike and I were together in the locker room celebrating a hard-fought victory in Oxford. Mike Leach truly embraced life and lived in such a manner as to leave no regrets. That's a worthy legacy."

Leach posted a 158-107 record in his 21 seasons as a head coach. He was in his third season with Mississippi State. Leach previously served as the head coach for Texas Tech (2000-09) and Washington State (2012-19).

Leach's football legacy will be linked to his heavy use of what is known as the "air raid" offense, which focuses primarily on spreading the field throwing the ball rather than running it.

Off the field, Leach was known for enjoying diverse interests and co-authored the 2014 book Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior, which offered leadership tips based on the Native American hero Geronimo's strategies.

Leach was also known for his fascination with pirates, which was referenced during a cameo appearance on the TV show Friday Night Lights. In a 2009 episode, his character was billed as a "random loon" who advised a coach on the show to find his "inner pirate."

"Today is a sad day for college football," University of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said in a statement. "We lost a great coach, a great person, and one of the legendary personalities in our sport."

Newsweek reached out to Mississippi State University for further comment.

Update 12/13/22, 10:35 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.