Mike Leach’s longtime right-hand man is heading back to the Pac-12 and leaving Leach behind.
Senior associate athletics director for football Dave Emerick announced on social media Saturday he had accepted the same position at USC, where his title will be general manager/senior associate AD.
“While I firmly believe that Mississippi State Football’s best days are ahead of them, it is time for me to take on a new adventure,” Emerick wrote.
Emerick served as Leach’s chief of staff in 2008 and 2009 with Texas Tech and joined Leach’s crew at Washington State in 2012. The following season, he was promoted to senior associate AD/chief of staff for the Cougars.
Emerick started out with Leach at Texas Tech in 2004 as unit coordinator during his first season and served as director of player personnel for the next three years before becoming chief of staff.
“We have had a lot of great times and have won a lot of games along the way,” Emerick said of Leach. “I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without him, and I am forever grateful for the impact that he has had on my life.”
Emerick will join a Trojans staff led by Lincoln Riley, who served as an assistant under Leach at Texas Tech from 2003-2007.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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