Halloween night 2008 was one that current University of Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley will never forget, the day before one of the most historic upsets in college football history.
Riley, Texas Tech’s wide receivers coach at the time, was riding shotgun alongside Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach en route to the team hotel ahead of their game against No. 1 Texas, when Leach got a call.
He caught a glimpse of the caller ID, which said “Matthew McConaughey.” Yes, the well-known actor.
Leach, described as hyper-focused, zeroed in on the conversation, omitting the road ahead of him as he nearly collided with a tractor-trailer, blindly merging lanes.
Riley took hold of the steering wheel to maneuver the car back, but the passengers of the tractor-trailer were visibly and audibly angry, pulling alongside their vehicle.
But Leach, oblivious to what had happened, rolled down the window to greet them as if they were fans.
Riley’s wild story of “The Pirate” was one of many told during Tuesday’s public memorial service for the late Mississippi State head coach, who passed away Dec. 12 from heart complications at age 61.
“So many great memories, so many laughs over so long,” Riley said. “What an unbelievable tree that he has, an unbelievable family of players, coaches, so many people that were influenced. So many of those people have become some of my best friends in the world and people that we’ve been able to share so many memories together and it all traces back to Mike Leach.”
Leach was wrapping up his third season as head coach of the Bulldogs when he passed, his best season at MSU, culminating in an 8-4 record and his first Egg Bowl victory since coming to Starkville in January 2020.
Mississippi State was Leach’s third stop as head coach, following successful stints at Texas Tech and Washington State, and his unique personality blended perfectly with the Bulldog community.
“Coach Leach was the first college coach to ever believe in me,” Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers said during his remarks at the memorial service in Humphrey Coliseum. “Coach and I had a special relationship, whether it was him calling me at 3 a.m. to talk about practice or a play we had ran, or maybe him just calling up to talk about ‘Yellowstone,’ I always enjoyed talking and being around Coach.”
Rogers was one of 11 speakers for Tuesday’s service, a list that included university administration, former players under him, coaches and close friends.
Tuesday was less about his accomplishments on the football field, of which there were many, but about the stories of who Leach was at his different stops during his coaching career.
From where he started at Iowa Wesleyan University in 1989, to his journey through Power Five college football programs, a memory always stuck out.
“Everyone has their story to tell about Coach Leach,” Rogers said. “Some funny and on-the-field, some probably not on the field. … I’m honored to have known this man and (to have played) this great game for him. Coach, thank you for believing in me and everything you’ve done for me.”
Leach’s colleague at Iowa Wesleyan, Hal Mumme, helped him develop and popularize the “Air Raid” offense, something that transcended modern football, on a trip to Key West, Florida.
After signing a few recruits while enjoying the warmth of the Sunshine State, Leach and Mumme began their journey set to the tune of Jimmy Buffet.
On their way back, Mumme talked to Leach about filling a potential coaching vacancy at The Citadel. Like in all of the stories recounted during Tuesday’s speeches, Leach’s response was timeless, but this one brought with it his now endearing nickname.
“He looks at me in this deadpan way that only he can do and he said, ‘I don’t want to play soldier,’” Mumme said. “I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He goes, ‘Schools like that, they play football, they go to school, but they dress up in uniforms. They play soldier all of the time. If I’m going to play something, I would rather play pirate.’”
Leach would call players and coaches in the early hours of the morning, talking about seemingly everything but football, but to all those who knew him well, that was Mike Leach to a T.
“I’m going to miss you, Coach,” Rogers said. “Until we meet again, my friend.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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