Mike Leach falls on his pirate sword
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 7:14 PM PST
69 comments
Mike Leach has wanted out of Lubbock for quite a few years and he got his wish today when the school fired the winningest coach Texas Tech history today.
Leach who has a penchant for pirates and quirkiness was the toast of the country after he was named Big 12 coach of the year and led Tech to the best season in the history of the program. The Red Raiders went 11-2 last season.
Leach was apparently fired after criticism errupted about the way he treated some of his players. One incident in particular came to light this week after Adam James had been ordered to stand for hours at a time under guard in a small darkened room for punishment for not being able to practice after a concussion.
He probably picked the wrong kid to pick on this time. Adam James, the son of broadcaster Craig James, went to his parents who contacted Tech officials about the incident demanding changes in the program.
Leach was suspended pending investigation then was asked to sign a list of guidelines on how players would be treated going forward. Leach refused to sign off on the list of guidelines and also decided to go to court to overturn the suspension so he could coach in the Alamo Bowl. That was the last straw for Texas Tech officials who had no choice but to fire him at that point for insubordination.
The partial list below at face value seems pretty reasonable so it is quite strange that Leach refused to sign it. Insiders say that the whole problem could have gone away if he had simply apologized and tried to cooperate with the Tech administration.
"Decisions regarding whether an injury warrants suspension from practice and/or play will be determined by a physician without pressure from you or your staff."
-"There will be no retaliation against any student who as suffered an injury."
Leach issued this statement after the decision was handed down:
"Texas Tech's decision to deal in lies and fabricate a story which led to my firing includes, but is not limited by, the animosity remaining from last year's contract negotiations. I will not tolerate such retaliatory action. Additionally, we will pursue all available legal remedies," Leach said he "would never intentionally harm or endanger a player" and that he has been "forced into this situation without being afforded any process." He also said "absolutely" no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards.
Tech's termination letter said Leach was fired with cause, meaning the university believes it does not owe Leach any of the remaining money left on a five-year, $12.7 million contract he agreed to in February. According to terms of the deal, Leach was due a $800,000 bonus on Dec. 31 if he were still the head coach at Texas Tech.
"I'm very sad to say there's only one person to blame for this and it's Mike Leach," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told the AP.
This one is headed for the courts and if you are a Husky fan you can count your blessings that Washington didn't hire this guy last season after two interviews which reportedly didn't go well. Word on the street is that Leach wanted the job and out of Lubbock and Washington wanted to hire a big name coach. Leach was that big name but he turned off Emmert and Woodward during interviews so they went with their gut and picked USC assistant Steve Sarkisian.
That hire had Husky fans scratching their heads a bit till the first press conference when it became very apparent what Woodward and Emmert had seen in Sarkisian. A year later leach is out of a job and may never coach again while the hiring of Sarkisian looks like a genius move. Like I said in an earlier article it is interesting how much difference single year can make.
Video of Adam James locked in the utility room
From what we are hearing Adam James isn't an Angel and isn't that popular with the majority of his teammates. He has a reputation of being lazy, selfish, and self entitled. That may be true but there are better and smarter ways to handle situations like this. Not every kid is going to make it in division one football for various reasons but there are much better ways to handle these type of situations and Leach should know better.
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To defend Leach
The James kid has been described as lazy and a malingerer, and his dad was reportedly constantly around the program and not happy that his kid wasn’t getting playing time, despite the fact that he’s not any good.
Sure...but...
You can’t lock a kid in a dark closet for three hours under guard with orders not to move. You can say whatever you want about the kid but that type of punishment is totally out of line. There are much better ways of handling such things.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed
But I don’t think it merits termination. He’s the most successful coach in the history of the program, has gone 10 for 10 getting to bowl games, took over a program that was on probation, and graduates more players than any other public institution.
It all comes down to the administration not liking that he was looking elsewhere, and Leach being stubborn and not issuing an apology.
In the long run though, this will hurt Texas Tech more than it will hurt Leach. He’ll be out of coaching for a year, and be a prime candidate when jobs start opening up next November/December. If Dan Hawkins has another bad year Colorado would be a good fit. The balls would fly around in the high altitude and he’d get to run up the score on Tech every other year.
by thecassino on Dec 30, 2009 9:21 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Termination
I don’t think the act merits automatic termination….however his refusal to sign off on a set of guidelines regarding player treatment is a problem. Not willing to take the high road and apologizing or explaining his actions is a problem. Taking the school to court to overturn the suspension is a problem.
It doesn’t sound like Mike is willing to work out a solution with the administration of the school which results in insubordination. That gives Tech rightful cause to fire him.
Not sure if Leach will have an easy time finding another BCS job. He will get interviews but he needs to drop the attitude to get a serious look. The guy is pretty different and he kicked a lot of money to the curb by refusing to bend on this one.
I think Tech will be fine. No one personality is bigger than the institution they work for.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 10:07 PM PST up reply actions
The Spanish Inquisition
Your right: the “James incident” didn’t merit termination…as apparently it did not from Texas Tech.
But it did merit an apology and a documented statement from Leach and the University that this wouldn’t happen again.
From the story John wrote, it was ML’s intransigence on this second action that forced the University to hand ML his walking papers.
As to whom this will hurt most, I don’t think it’s a slam dunk that TT comes out on the short end. The publicity of a football program at an institute of higher learning employing punishments that evoke memories of the Spanish Inquisition is not just bad for Texas Tech.
It’s bad for college football.
And if Emmert and Woodward had questions about ML being the right fit here during their interview process, you can be damn sure after this, every potential employer will have questions.
And that’s not where you want to be positioned when you applying for a new job.
by ThaiDiamond on Dec 30, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions
One thing we have to remember
Leach may have a point about due process….we still don’t know the entire story.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
They rushed the firing because they had to
They needed to fire him before he was granted an injunction, or else they were automatically out 800K. They were looking for a way to dump him and save the money and did it as quickly as possible. Now, firing him in front of the media on the way in to the court room should tell you all you need to know about their feelings towards him.
I mentioned that below
The emails shed a whole different light on this deal.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:38 AM PST up reply actions
James
He is a RS sophomore who had 15 catches for 159 yards and one touchdown in 2008 and 17 catches for 154 yards in 2009.
CBSSports.com says it has obtained e-mails of six current and former Texas Tech players and coaches that disparage sophomore Adam James, whose allegations of mistreatment led to the suspension of football coach Mike Leach. In one, James is referred to as “unusually lazy and entitled,” and in another he’s labeled “a complete jerk.”
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
Leach didn't want out of Lubbock
He’s expressed his love for the city from the very beginning and his lengthy contract was to help ensure that he stayed put for as long as he could.
Not what we heard...
He wanted the UW job and was ready to take it if offered….it wasn’t offered. C’mon Damien…it’s Lubbock….it’s as big as an armpit as Pullman.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 7:59 PM PST up reply actions
Everything's bigger in Texas
I completely agree. Everything I’ve read ML wanted to be on a bigger stage in a location that he could recruit the kind of players that Texas or OK would typically get.
However, I would not compare a city of 200,000 to one of 27K. Lubbock may not be Houston, Dallas or Austin, but it’s no Pullman.
On second thought, maybe you’re right. 200K is Pullman…Texas size.
by ThaiDiamond on Dec 30, 2009 10:16 PM PST up reply actions
Amen!
The last thing we needed is another meltdown for the head coach! The future looks brighter and brighter! GO DAWGS!!
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Serious dodge of the bullet
If Leach had pulled something like that at UW it would have set us back another decade.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
Let's be a bit realistic about this . . .
Do you honestly think the kid is telling the 100% truth? Probably as much as we believe Leach is telling the 100% truth. Here’s my bet, the kid is spoiled and entitled, it didn’t go over well with Leach, Leach punished the kid and the kid went crying to daddy. I don’t believe that the punishment was exactly how the James family portrays it. Did Leach go too far, probably. But if you think the kid isn’t stretching the truth, then I’ve got some ocean front property in Oklahoma that I’d like to sell you!
Today marks the end of Texas Tech being a relevant FBS school, they are headed back to the cellar of the Big 12, never to be seen or heard from again. This isn’t about a coach being too harsh with a player, this is nothing more than a pissing match between a coach and an administration, not a whole lot different than UW in 1992. Leach wanted out of Texas Tech and the administration was tired of him and his ego. Too bad the administration just screwed the pooch and killed their football program. Mike Leach will land on his feet, he will coach again, and he will be successful. He could get hired at a smaller school looking to make a name for itself, or he could end up as a coordinator at a larger program. Don’t get me wrong, he made some big mistakes and he definitely wasn’t the right guy for the UW, but he isn’t Bobby Knight either.
Woodward and Emmert definitely made the right choice, even as successful as he’s been, Leach was just too risky for a UW program that couldn’t afford another bad hire. Sark has turned out to be a great hire, but like John said, one year can make a huge difference. Right now we all want to anoint Sark as the Dawgfather II, but a 5-7 record next year and we’ll all be asking what were Emmert and Woodward thinking!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Really?
Would you want to work for that administration? Would you want to work in Lubbock? I think TT just became a non factor in the FBS.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
I think you’re dramatically over-stating things Lear. Depending on who they get, Tech could continue to thrive – it wouldn’t surprise me to see Sonny Dykes take the job if offered (which would also help us in weakening Arizona) given his dad’s history there, and they have a shot to lure Art Briles who would be a strong hire.
Tech’s administration obviously had issues with Leach, but given his history, does that surprise you? His winning is what kept all this from going down sooner. He wanted out, the administration there was short on patience with him and this incident gave them their way out of a contract they were pressured into last year.
I think most coaches are aware enough of all sides of the Tech/Leach story to not automatically cross Tech off their list.
I probably am
But TT was a non factor before Leach, and they really need to hire a good coach or they will become a non factor again. So yes, I agree, it’s completely dependent on who they hire. I do think they have made that job of hiring a coach significantly harder given the emails that have recently come to light combined with their current behavior.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
A “non-factor”? That’s a bit of an over-statement – Spike Dykes did pretty well there preceding Leach (82-67-1) with winning seasons in 8 of his 14 seasons and 7 bowl games.
Tech past
Tech had some good years in the past but even under Leach they didn’t have that exceptional year which put them completely over the top. I think Tech has some pretty good options going forward to hold onto the momentum the last two coaches have built.
Sonny Dykes coming home is a very likely scenario if Briles remains at Baylor.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 1, 2010 8:36 AM PST up reply actions
Yep. People are over-stating the impact of firing Leach – they could very easily bring in another good coach with ties to Leach’s system and continue to be a winning program.
The selfish part of me hopes Sonny Dykes is the guy – with Mark Stoops also leaving and the horrible bowl game Arizona had, I’d love to see their momentum continue to go in the wrong direction with Dykes leaving as well. Arizona falling hard give Washington one less Pac-10 contender to have to deal with…
A factor in Fehoko's decision?
LB VJ Fehoko is reported to be a strong lean to TT.
Will ML’s firing push him to re-consider the Dawgs?
He is still considering UW...but...
The question is if UW is still considering at this point. He may end up here but there are a couple of kids they might be waiting on they like better.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 30, 2009 10:36 PM PST up reply actions
Here's a video of the two places he was "locked"
Now, this Leach’s lawyer on the news, but make your own judgments on it.
I also wonder how you guys feel about ESPN essentially making the news by breaking this when Craig James fed them this. Without that, this story doesn’t blow up like it did and none of this probably happens. Leach got railroaded without process because James and ESPN lit a fire and fanned the flames.
I should also point out
This is the same school that hired Bobby Knight post Indiana firing. Take from that what you will…
And one more thing, since I just stumbled upon it
Here are the emails between the AD and some close to the renegotiation of his contract after (I think) he had the UW interview. They are in PDF form.
It’s pretty clear they had pretty strong negative feelings towards Leach already.
Yeah I saw those earlier. Pretty interesting read.
As for ESPN, they’ve made no secret about being on the side of the James family. Just about every college football analyst seems to be chastising Leach. Then when Leach released his statement earlier tonight, ESPN waited til about midnight (eastern) to air it, hours after it had been given.
They're sure pushing that cell phone video, though
So he was left in a room with his cell phone. How rough! He was sitting there during practice texting friends and screwing around on the internet probably. Also, who brings a cell phone to football practice, even if they aren’t participating?
Proof
Can anybody prove that he was forced to be in that room? If a kid really hates his coach, why can’t he go find a room, close the door, and start taking a video?? I’m not saying that’s the case, but there is always two sides to every story and right now we are only hearing one side.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Emails
Pretty wild stuff. Doesn’t sound like Tech was all that supportive.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:26 AM PST up reply actions
cougfan, ESPN is not a real news organization
They are in bed with most of their subjects financially and ESPN creates controversy for ratings routinely. I`ve been saying this for 10 years now. But ESPN didn`t create this controversy. How dumb is Leach to force a kid with a concussion to do anything at all? 2009 was the biggest year ever for sports concussion scrutiny! The NFL, NCAA, Congress and many more all weighed in. Leach targeting the son of an ESPN football analyst is just the icing on a very stupid course of conduct. You can`t blame ESPN for Leach`s epic bad judgment.
by 206 on Dec 31, 2009 12:07 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
But, he didn't force the kid to do anything
What do you do with a concussion? You stay away from light because you are sensitive and avoid contact. This is exactly what he had the kid do. It may have been on the farther end of the spectrum but in no way was it dangerous. It also wasn’t like he was locked in the dark in a closet. These really weren’t bad places at all.
What have you heard about the kid? He wanted to transfer, he whined about PT, and has a famous dad who happens to be an analyst for ESPN. Was it unfair to have the kid secluded? Maybe, but I don’t see it being a huge problem. Neither side ever said the kid was going to be forced to participate in practice with his concussion.
There is no chance, none at all, that if this was any other person’s kid except an ESPN analyst that this would be as big as it is.
Exactly
We are only hearing one side of the story! The world must be coming to an end, I completely agree with a Cougar fan!!!
NNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
I'll make a new year's resolutioin
to never agree with a cougar ever again!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Slight Discrepancy
It doesn’t resemble the place that is shown on the cell phone video so one side or the other isn’t telling the truth. Doesn’t look like the maintenance shed or theinterview room.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:19 AM PST up reply actions
Noticed that as well
I’m not too sure which side to believe here, either. Since a cell phone video is undated, it’s not the end all as a source. On the other hand, you’re taking Leach’s word, so who knows there.
There is a lot more to this story
It will all play out in court over time. Those emails are really something.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:27 AM PST up reply actions
They really were
They should have known that emails are subject to public records request. The court case that’s coming is going to be very messy and could bring down quite a few people in the upper reaches of TTU. I can’t wait to see what else pops up, but this spells disaster for their program.
It will just cost Tech some money
They will end up having to settle with Leach in some monetary way. I think it is naive of them to think that they can fire him with cause a couple of days before he is supposed to get $800,000.
Leach should have been patient….seeking an injunction so he could coach in the Alamo Bowl forced their hand.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:34 AM PST up reply actions
I was thinking about what a messy court case could do, though
He can go through and find precedence (I’m looking at you men’s basketball), and really drag them through the mud, just as they probably can to him. Sure it will cost them money, but I think their image may take the big hit if his lawyer is any good.
Leach did screw himself by filing an injuction, but this still isn’t a firing offense to me. It would probably be wise of them to quietly settle for a nice sum and move on.
Sounds like a lot of bad blood on both sides that has finally come to a head. This one is going to be ugly.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:55 AM PST up reply actions
Both sides really screwed themselves!
Leach is going to be out of coaching for a year and will be lucky to find an equal job after this. The school and the football program are going to take a HUGE hit and heads will fall. Who is going to be interested in taking the TTU job know??
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
It's funny how...
…if you read the emails there was a constant battle being waged between the administration and Leach. To me what he did there was amazing. Did he accomplish as much as Stoops or Brown? Of course not but those programs aren’t comparable with TT. Maybe TT thinks so but they need to get a heavy dose of reality and something tells me they will.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Leach is a Pompous Ass
sure he`s talented and has had some success but that`s not the point. It`s a fact that he wanted out of Lubbock and he failed at getting a better job. Do you think it was his stats that held him back? Leach thought he`d outgrown Lubbock and that`s understandable but acting like a petulant clown is not. It appears he had no reasonable basis not to sign that document and that`s why he personally served up his own for cause termination. Self-destructive behavior anyone?? Leach is going to have even worse personality disorder after this is over. Good luck to the school that hires him!
by 206 on Dec 30, 2009 11:41 PM PST via mobile reply actions
The whole point is he could have handled this thing better and limited the damage that was done. What he did was simply silly. If he doesn’t want the kid on the team give him his release and send him on his way.
by John Berkowitz on Dec 31, 2009 1:29 AM PST up reply actions
Show me an FBS coach who isn't a pompous ass!
They all have ego’s the size of the universe. This is nothing more than a pissing match between the administration and the coach, both screwed the pooch, big time!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Yeah I can imagine how...
…this thing played out. It’s basically “he said, she said” until the issue is litigated in court. You have an administration which obviously had strained relations with it’s football coach. You had a coach who likewise had problems with the powers that be at TT. I don’t think it plays out real well when you fire a head coach on the day before you are contractually obligated to pay him a large sum of money. It sounds like they needed a reason to fire him and they apparently thought they had found it. The devils in the details and that will all come out in court.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Nueheisel
That guy was a clown and he walked away vindicated.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Yep
That about sums it up!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Due process
Neu may have been a clown but the NCAA never gave him due process and forced Washington to fire him without any. in the end he got his money and the UW and the NCAA had to pay up. Myles Brand who recently passed away really didn’t do the NCAA too many favors with his reactionary behavior.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 1, 2010 8:39 AM PST up reply actions
Just talked to a TTC '60s player
We also had interesting talks a year ago about Leach. We both agree that Quirky fits, in fact that was the only message I left with his secretary yesterday.
He thinks Leach is a brilliant coach and some school will get a great coach, and the program will be run his way. Concerning Craig James, he had made calls to Leach, thinking his son should play more. Apparently young James showed up at practice in sweats and sunglasses, and that led to the dark rooms. Transferring to SMU had also been mentioned.
In my opinion, the level of concussion, always described as “mild”, will have a lot to do with the court case. This was no way to treat a person suffering from a concussion. But if this is an unhappy kid that got banged in the head, and is now over it, but still milking the situation, then discipline is in order. Leach runs the program, not a TV guy or his 3rd string son.
This story is far from over, and the biggest winner will be the UW, because they chose the unknown Sark!
Maybe James can bring down SMU like his daddy did
People keep saying this, and yet I can find no evidence that James had anything to do with SMU’s penalties. If you have evidence to the contrary, I’d love to see it. Just because James might be a “helicopter” dad and might be arrogant doesn’t mean it’s fair to pile on and accuse him of things he didn’t do.
Pirates and Pirates
I can see the best fit for Leach is …. right, where all pirates eventually end up … Oakland, to work for the biggest pirate of them all, al Davis. A marriage made in, err, skull island.
Oakland needs big help with their offense and Leach likes fast football and Al Davis drools for fast players. Arghh. Avast. Harrrrr.
And thank the football gods UW didn’t hire this goof.
Great Fit!
That would be cool to see it happen.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Cool??
Only if you think a train wreck is “cool”. Then again, I do think it would be a very fun train wreck to watch!!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Leach wanted out of Lubbock?
That’s news to me. Is there any evidence to support that?
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
Check the emails...listed ablove from Tech admins...
That would be the first place to look. Also examine the interview process between UW and Leach. Plenty of evidence in both places.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 1, 2010 8:42 AM PST up reply actions
Just read the emails
they are more damning than the global warming emails. My favorite line was “don’t show this to anyone”! Its hard to believe much of what the TTU chancellor said on espn the other night.
To quote Mack Davis, happiness was Lubbock Texas in his rear view mirror.
Craig James needs to go
What he did here is utterly disgusting. This was all on him. He was all over Leach because poor little Adam didn’t play enough. What he failed to understand was poor little Adam was a lazy entitled POS. James decided to tear down TTU like he helped do at SMU back in his day. ESPN needs to can him and if I were Leach I’d sue the family and network along with the university.
I think we all need to take a close look at both sides of the story over time and take a step back. We are hearing enough conflicting information from both sides that is is probably best to wait before deciding on judgement.
At this point it seems to me that both sides behaved inappropiately.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 2, 2010 8:04 AM PST up reply actions
And I think people need to stop accusing James of doing things he didn’t do. There is no evidence I can find that he was involved in the SMU scandal when he was a player, so let’s stop insinuating (or outright accusing) otherwise. There seems to be plenty of things to legitimately criticize him for in the Leach/TT story – no need to add stuff that isn’t true to the mix.
Yes, but
It is the responsibility of the media to do their due diligence with stories. They took what James told them, which has changed between then and now, and ran with it. It started as put in an equipment bin, and evolved into what it is now. They reported after only hearing half the story from a source that is on the company payroll. In doing this, they created a firestorm which they were at the center of, which is against everything you learn in journalism.
ESPN
I think ESPN is going to take a big hit to their news reporting reputation on this one – seems pretty clear that they let their allegiance to Craig James color their reporting of the story.
And that hit is deserved
The story exposed an almost fear among employees to speak out against there own. Every analyst and reporter towed the company line on this story and fell in behind James. Having a news organization where this is the case is dangerous. It also again reinforces the notion that ESPN protects their own. They were the last to report the Big Ben stories, the Tiger Woods story, and more of the like, causing people to openly wonder why they were in bed with certain athletes and personalities.
I’d like to see what their ombudsman writes about this story. I’m sure they will be writing a piece and it probably won’t shed the coverage in a favorable light.
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