With Mike Leach still fuming, Tech needs to reach out, save brand

By VF Castro | Jun 30, 2017

Dec 27, 2016; San Diego , CA, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach looks on from the sideline during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Qualcomm Stadium. Minnesota won 17-12. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Normally when schools part ways from coaches, you don’t hear about it years later. But for former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach, he might have a point.

When Mike Leach was fired, it was amid allegations stemming from “locking” a player in a shed as a way to treat a concussion.

That player was Adam James, son of former ESPN and Fox Sports Southwest analyst, Craig James. Perhaps if the alleged incident hadn’t involved a family with a national built-in speaking platform, things might have gone much differently between Leach, and Texas Tech.

That’s all speculation, but Leach has said several times throughout the eight years since his firing, that until Tech makes this right, he’ll continue to make Tech a centerpiece for controversy.

During his time at Texas Tech, Mike Leach never had a season with six wins or less in total play, and the only Time Tech finished at 3-5 in conference play, was his first season as head coach. While many criticize him for his delivery, the reason fans haven’t been able to get over his firing, was because he won–consistently.

In his sixth season as Washington State’s head coach, he’s helped the Cougars improve to second place in the Pac 12 North, and has a 113-77 record.

In an article by USA Today‘s Brent Schrotenboer, Leach said, “This thing won’t really go away. And it’ll never go away until this thing is settled. And it should be settled, because why should the future generation bear the black eye and the cloud that their university cheated their most successful coach in history?” Leach continued, “And why should I bear that, some of the 10 most productive years of my career? I was cheated out of my salary, and all the great memories that I, fans, players and coaches had, are diminished.”

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Leach claims he was cheated out of roughly $2.5 million when he was fired.

Texas Tech administrators have made it virtually impossible for a large number of fans to embrace Kliff Kingsbury, which has inadvertently been dividing fans for years.

Leach went to great lengths to exonerate himself from any wrongdoing, and tried to file a suit claiming wrongful termination, where an appellate court ruled in favor of Texas Tech. Leach ended up suing Texas Tech, but the Texas Supreme Court rejected his appeal back in 2012. Schrotenboer wrote, “He [Leach] lost on the basis that Tech, as a state institution in Texas, had sovereign immunity that protected it from being successfully sued for damages.”

From the lens of an outsider, this back and forth between Leach and Tech could have lasting consequences, as it begs the question of whether Tech can be trusted.

From the lens of an insider, this is probably the most accurate way to summarize how Tech fans are feeling about this recent outburst:

Kent Hance is the former Chancellor of Texas Tech University. Back in 2009, Craig James sent an email to Hance telling him his son was locked in a closet to treat concussion symptoms, alleging it was done to punish him [Adam James]. Witness statements contradicted the email’s allegations, however, Leach was still fired.

“Ultimately, Leach’s mistreatment of a student-athlete with a brain concussion, coupled with his subsequent insubordinate behavior, left the university with no choice but to fire him.” Said Dicky Grigg, who was Tech’s attorney during the proceedings. “Coach Leach was justifiably terminated for cause in conformity with his contract.”

Leach was terminated the day before he was to receive an $800,000 retention bonus, which Leach claims was years in the making.

In a time where Leach’s former graduate assistant (now Oklahoma head coach) Lincoln Riley is telling spirited anecdotes detailing Leach’s way with words, it’s yet another reminder why Tech can’t get ahead. It’s unknown if Kingsbury calls Leach for advice, or to talk chalk, however, one would imagine that could be an awkward conversation.

If Mike Leach can have an hour-long conversation with a total stranger, I’m sure there’s a way for both parties to find a resolve, otherwise, this will continue to be the narrative that no head coach, or administrator will be able to move on from.

If anything, Texas Tech needs to reach out and find a way to resolve this amicably, without any further damage to the Texas Tech brand.

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