Mike Leach looks back on Tennessee’s coaching search

[Burhead]

After six seasons at WSU he's barely made .500 win %. First three seasons were all losing records. He woulda been fired after third consecutive losing season at UT.

WSU's last winning season prior to Leach going there was in 2003. They were 28-48 from 2004 to 2011. Leach has gotten them to .500 ball after years of being the Kentucky/Vandy of the Pac. Also got them to their first bowl game and victory since 2003 as well. Leach at WSU has beaten #24 Washington in 2012 (1st year), #25 USC in 2013, #18 UCLA in 2015, #15 Stanford in 2016, and #5 USC & #18 Stanford last year. Leach is a damn fine coach for what he has produced not only at WSU but turning Texas Tech into a competitive program for awhile. I was 110% on hiring the Pirate here not just for his press conference antics but his coaching ability it would have been an amazing ride.

 

[golfballs]

We needed a top tier recruiter more than we needed a brilliant offensive mind. Would've been a fun, completely controversial hire but don't think he would've done well here.

Recruiting isn’t hard. The place sells itself basically. See Dooley and Butch

 

[TGFHeupel16]

I wish we would’ve hired him instead of Pruitt. Flame away.

Why??

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Why??

Because Leach is a proven head coach, Pruitt is not. We really have no idea how he will do in this job. I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Winning’s funner.

No doubt. I'm happy with Pruitt thus far. Just hope the crazies don't run him off.

 

[TGFHeupel16]

Because Leach is a proven head coach, Pruitt is not. We really have no idea how he will do in this job. I’m cautiously optimistic.

I completely understand that. I guess I’m more of the all or nothing mindset. Take the risk and potentially get the next Neyland or Saban, or bust. Instead of a coach who would be fun. But in my opinion never get us where we truly want to be.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

All of the big time job openings last year and Leach was like Kiffin, he never got a call.

 

[RavinDave]

I would have been happy with Leach.

Sure, he’s an odd dude but the man knows how to coach.

Not to mention he’d be the type of guy who wouldn’t take sh*t from our Administration.

Spot on and I would have been happy to see Leach on The Hill too but I also saw it as a square peg in a round hole (or maybe vice versa) in terms of internal politics and would guess he'd of soon been on the outs with the Administration. But who knows? Would have been great theater even if it didn't last long or produce an SEC championship. In the end I think we came out with a better POTENTIAL "win" with Pruitt...

 

[82_VOL_83]

Winning’s funnerer.

Fify

 

[photovol]

We would have had a lot of fun with Leach. We would have been a 10 win program, never more, with every press conference being must see TV.

The Vols were so low after butt jones, only a hard nosed old school football coach would be able to ressurect the dead

 

[Keyser Soze]

Always a fan of Leach!

 

[Denton'sGhostGBO]

So... uhh.. If I am wrong and this Pruitt hire doesn't work we have a candidate that we know would be interested.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

Spot on and I would have been happy to see Leach on The Hill too but I also saw it as a square peg in a round hole (or maybe vice versa) in terms of internal politics and would guess he'd of soon been on the outs with the Administration. But who knows? Would have been great theater even if it didn't last long or produce an SEC championship. In the end I think we came out with a better POTENTIAL "win" with Pruitt...

Agree with this. Funny but I remember Currie’s press conference where he said the hire would be explosive and big. Suppose he had hired Leach right off the bat. It would have been controversial but probably then Currie and Davenport still have a job and we are all wondering what the Air Raid would do this Fall.

 

[billford]

Agree but I’m kind of over winning only the press conference.

Absolutely agree.

 

[butchna]

So... uhh.. If I am wrong and this Pruitt hire doesn't work we have a candidate that we know would be interested.

And would be the final sign that we’ve given up.

 

[RavinDave]

Agree with this. Funny but I remember Currie’s press conference where he said the hire would be explosive and big. Suppose he had hired Leach right off the bat. It would have been controversial but probably then Currie and Davenport still have a job and we are all wondering what the Air Raid would do this Fall.

Yeah if he'd a had half a backbone we never would of heard of a potential Schiano hire. But he carried on as Haslam's puppet and the rest as they say...

 

[Pruitt Will Do It]

 

[secking]

He would have pirate ships on the river, would have been cool and would have been the best interview each week, hands down.

 

[Unimane]

We'd win nothing with him as coach. He's good for bringing doormat programs to decent results through his unconventional offense and ways, but that wouldn't fly well here. We'd beat a good team one week and then lose 52-41 to the next his team.

I was vehemently against him and Mullen in the coaching search and feel even better about my position today.

 

[awaitingawin]

You can never be a winner in the SEC without a strong defense. We have one of if not the best staffs in college football. Hope they stay together as a staff until they can win a championship...at least the SEC championship. Defense wins.