'Heartbroken' Josh Heupel issues statement on the passing of Mike Leach
Josh Heupel was at his second college in as many years in 1998, at Snow College in Utah, when Mike Leach found him.
Heupel was a junior college All-American, throwing for 2,308 yards and 28 touchdowns, before transferring to Oklahoma for the 1999 season, where he would play under Leach, then Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
On Tuesday, a “heartbroken” Heupel released a statement on the passing of the 61-year-old Leach, the Mississippi State head coach who died of complications from heart disease, according to a statement from the Leach family.
“I am heartbroken on the passing of Coach Leach,” Heupel said. “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.
“Like so many across our sport, I am grateful for Coach Leach’s impact on my life both personally and professionally. His offensive philosophy and vision were ahead of his time, and they continue to shape the game today.”
At Oklahoma in 1999, after the stops at Weber State in 1997 and Snow College in 1998, Heupel would throw for 3,460 yards and 30 touchdowns in Leach’s offense. He threw for 3,606 yards and 20 touchdowns a year later, leading the Sooners to the BCS National Championship, a Big 12 Championship and, for Heupel, a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Heupel is considered part of the extensive Leach coaching tree. Leach’s 2000 Texas Tech staff alone included Sonny Dykes, Dana Holgorsen, Ruffin McNeill, Art Briles and Dave Aranda, with Kliff Kingsbury as the team’s starting quarterback.
In 21 years as a head coach, Leach went 158-107 during stints at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, leading his teams to 19 bowl games and changing the sport with his Air Raid offense.
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“Off the field, he was one of a kind — an incredible storyteller, a man full of wisdom and someone who always cared about his former players and coaches,” Heupel said. “I enjoyed our friendship over the years. My deepest condolences go out to Coach Leach’s family, his wife Sharon, his kids and grandkids and the entire Mississippi State football program.”
Mississippi State went 8-4 this season, ending the regular-season schedule with a win over rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl and earning a berth in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois on January 2.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement following the loss of Leach:
“The life of Mike Leach touched thousands upon thousands of people through his coaching, leadership teaching and insightful commentary.
“We will miss mike. Every conversation with Mike made you think. His humor, depth and point of view continually challenged us all to think differently and reevaluate our perspectives. His innovative approach to the game contributed to the evolution of college football.
“We mourn his untimely passing as we offer our support to Mike’s wife, Sharon, their children and grandchildren, along with his current and former players, coaching colleagues and the Mississippi State community.”
