BYU Football Community Offer Prayers To Hospitalized Alum Mike Leach

PROVO, Utah – Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach remains in critical condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. According to reports, Leach suffered a “massive heart attack” on Sunday.

“Mike’s family is with him and appreciates the overwhelming expressions of love and support for the coach, but also requests that their family’s privacy be respected at this time,” Mississippi State said in a statement on Monday.

Our love and prayers are with the Leach family and @HailStateFB 💙

We love you Coach Leach! https://t.co/V4wBAMpG6I

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 13, 2022

Since news emerged of Leach’s condition, the college football world has expressed its prayers to the coach known for high-flying Air Raid offenses.

BYU football program sends prayers to Mike Leach

The BYU football community has also extended those prayers. The official BYU football Twitter account wrote, “Our love and prayers are with the Leach family and @HailStateFB.”

Leach earned his bachelor’s degree at BYU in 1983. However, he never was part of BYU’s football program. Instead, he was an athlete for BYU’s rugby team during his years as a student in Provo. Then after earning his law degree at Pepperdine, Leach began getting into football coaching.

He studied offenses under the direction of LaVell Edwards and met the creator of the Air Raid, Hal Mumme, through visits to BYU’s campus during his young coaching career.

Now a two-decade veteran as an FBS head coach, Leach has become one of the great offensive minds in college football history during his stops at Texas Tech, Washington State, and now in Stark Vegas with the Bulldogs of Mississippi State.

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe, who earned his bachelor’s degree in the same 1983 class as Leach, expressed his support for Mississippi State’s head coach.

“Mike is a BYU Alum and friend of ours for many years. His daughter and son both worked in our athletic department while BYU students and were incredible young people. We love the Leach’s. You have our constant prayers and concerns,” tweeted Holmoe.

Mike is a BYU Alum and friend of ours for many years. His daughter and son both worked in our athletic department while BYU students and were incredible young people. We love the Leach’s. You have our constant prayers and concerns.❤️🙏🏼 https://t.co/NUMUTze7dJ

— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) December 13, 2022

Prayers for Leach

College football coaches around the country have expressed their thoughts for Mike Leach and his family. Especially from Leach’s colleagues in the SEC, including Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

Prayers for Coach Leach. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ygu6ckjSef

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 12, 2022

Please keep Mike Leach in your prayers tonight. We are thinking about Mike, his wife Sharon, and all of his family, friends and players

— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) December 12, 2022

Praying for Coach Leach and his family

— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) December 12, 2022

Prayers for my good friend Mike Leach.

Please keep Coach and his family in your prayers-

— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) December 12, 2022

My thoughts are with my mentor, my colleague and, more importantly, my friend, Mike Leach. While I am devastated by today’s news, I know Mike is a fighter with an incredible spirit and I know he will continue to battle. Prayers to Sharon and their extended family. 🙏🏼

— Dana Holgorsen (@Holgorsendana) December 12, 2022

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s BYU football coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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