WSU Football Recruiting: Mike Leach With Strong Performance

Mike Leach New Coaching Staff Includes UCLA RB Coach Jim Castro

Mike Leach has been hired as the new Washington St. Cougars head coach, which brings all sorts of nice quirks. One of them will be the type of assistants he hires with his new coaching staff.

Leach doesn't usually make typical hires, which always makes it very compelling who the Cougars end up hiring. Chris Level has the reports here, here and here.

• Clay McGuire as offensive line coach after working with the special teams and running backs at East Carolina. McGuire is a former running back of Leach's.
• Eric Morris, a former wide receiver of Leach, will coach the inside receivers. Dennis Simmons (who worked with Leach at Tech) will coach the outside receivers.
• Jim Mastro was the running back coach brought in from Nevada to help install the Pistol offense at UCLA. He will join Washington State in a similar capacity.

To discuss Leach's new hires with Washington State fans, go to CougCenter.

VIDEO: Mike Leach Press Conference

Mike Leach Press Conference: The Pirate Returns

Washington St. Cougars head coach Mike Leach is in a good spot. WSU is coming off perhaps the worst era in the program's history, so expectations are not terribly high.

If his first press conference is any indication, there's going to be a lot of excitement that comes with Leach's arrival in Pullman. Particularly with the local media, who have to be loving the quotables Leach will be sending their way

Leach has a history of being quirky with the media. His opening press conference in Pullman was no exception. Brian Floyd of CougCenter obtained these quotes.

He wrapped his opening statement with two comments that quickly drew laughs.

"People ask me Why Washington State?," Leach said before hitting his punch-line. "Once I get past thinking 'Well that's a stupid question...'" Showing off the wisdom he's learned in his years of coaching, Leach closed with, "I've never been a big opening statement guy. I always find the media asks what they want anyway." Truer words have never been spoken.

...

When asked about a five-year plan, Leach said he deals in one-day plans. His plan? To win one game a week. Seems like a pretty solid game-plan to attack. Leach also wants his team to be excited about what it does, and do it well.

"It doesn't matter what you do, be it the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker," Leach said. "Be excited about what you do."

...

 

"I'm from Cody, Wyoming, which is practically local by the standards of this part of the country"

Of course, for those looking for more technical details of what Leach is going to do, you're probably out of luck. This was an introduction to the phenomenon that is Mike Leach, and all the great stuff he can bring to a football program. There's great reason for excitement if you're a Washington State fan.

To watch Leach's conference, click here.

To discuss Leach on the Cougars, head to CougCenter.

Mike Leach Press Conference: Time, Live Stream, Location

Today, the Washington St. Cougars football team begins a potentially bright new era of football as they introduce Mike Leach as their new head coach. Leach will harken in heightened anticipation and expectations for a program that has rarely been considered in the general college football landscape. Leach won all the time at Texas Tech (which many could consider the Washington State of the Big 12), and he'll be expected to do similar things when he starts his stint in the Pac-12. Washington State fans have to be pretty excited at the possibilities now that Leach is here to lead the team to the next level.

Leach will be announced in a press conference that can be viewed online to Washington State and college football fans all over the nation. Here's the info on today's presser.

Live stream: Click here for the free link from WSUCougars.com.
   
Time: noon PT/3 PM ET.
   
Place: CUB Ballroom in Pullman, open to the public.

To discuss the Leach press conference with Washington State fans, head on over to CougCenter.   

Mike Leach's Book, And A Window Into The Washington State Coach's Mind

VIDEO: Mike Leach, Pirate Ships And A Welcome To Wazzu

Mike Leach To Washington State: Hiring Brings Big Expectations To Cougars Program

The college football offseason still isn't technically underway, but there have already been some major fireworks out of the Pac-12. First came the firing of four head coaches, then came the rumors, and then came the hirings. With Mike Leach now in Pullman, there will be raised expectations for the Washington State Cougars. Just ask Gregg Doyel on Twitter:

Mike Leach will have Washington State in the Pac-12 title game within three years. He's that good.

Big words for a man who hasn't even spent 48 hours as the head coach in Pullman.

Gone will be the days when a 7-6 season will be considered a relative success. It may take some time, but WSU fully intends to win (and win big) with Leach at the helm of the program. He will bring his air-raid offense and blitz-happy defense along with him, and he and the coaching staff will get after it on the recruiting trail. With the success he experienced at Texas Tech with these schemes, many feel that the Cougars will be at the top of the conference sooner rather than later.

It will not be easy and there will certainly be a few bumps along the way, but Cougar fans have to feel good about their football program right now. This has the makings of a home run hire for WSU.

For more coverage, head on over to Coug Center.

Mike Leach Officially Signs As Washington State Head Coach

The Washington St. Cougars can officially say that Mike Leach is their new head coach. Leach signed earlier this hour in Pullman and will be introduced as Washington State's head coach tomorrow.

Leach coached the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2000 to 2009 and led them to bowl appearances in every season he was in Lubbock.  Washington State has not had quite as much success (only three bowl appearances and NONE since 2003), so the bar will probably be a bit more generous for Leach to reach. His contract will probably demand that he start producing early though.

The press conference will take place tomorrow at noon. Here is the official release from the Washington State Cougars website.

Washington State University announced Wednesday that Mike Leach has been named the Cougars' head football coach. Leach, who agreed in principle to a five-year contract, will be introduced at a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 6 at noon in Pullman.

"I asked athletic director Bill Moos to select the best head football coach in the country and I am convinced that he has done exactly that," said WSU President Elson S. Floyd.

"This is an exciting day for Washington State University and Cougar football," said Moos. "I have spoken about the need to re-energize our fan base and take Cougar football to the next level. I believe the hiring of Mike Leach accomplishes both of those goals. His credentials speak for themselves."

Pullman will be a change of scenery for sure (Leach spent much of his time away from coaching in the Florida Keys), but if anyone can adjust, it's the Pirate. 

To discuss Leach and WSU football, head to CougCenter.

Mike Leach Contract Reportedly Five Years, $2.2 Million Per Year

Some of the details are beginning to trickle out about Mike Leach's contract for the Washington St. Cougars. It is a good one, and could spur a Pac-12 arms race when it comes to coaching.

If all goes well, Leach will be in Pullman for the next five years. The deal is reported to last through the 2016 season.

Leach will be paid handsomely. Pete Thamel of the New York Times is reporting that the WSU head coach will be making $2.2 million per year, or about $11 million through the extent of his confernece. That would put him at or near the level of the premier coaches of the conference like Chip Kelly of Oregon, Lane Kiffin of USC, and Jeff Tedford of California.

This wouldn't have been possible even as soon as a year or two ago. However, the Pac-12 TV contract has really opened up avenues for most athletic directors to start spending higher to pay for top football coaches. The conference is looking stronger every day, and Washington State is looking much stronger right now.

To discuss Leach and the Cougars, head to CougCenter.

Mike Leach, Washington State Cougars Head Coach

The Washington St. Cougars are trying to strike it big. And they have hit gold.

Mike Leach has verbally agreed to become the next coach of the Cougars, reports Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports. The details of the agreement aren't clear, but it's likely Leach will be highly compensated compared to his predecessor Paul Wulff. Athletic Director Bill Moos said WSU were aiming high, and it doesn't really get much higher than the Pirate.

Leach will be walking into an advantageous situation. The Cougars have a fairly functional offense in place that loves to pass the football, has two solid quarterbacking options in Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday, and a premier receiving threat in Marquess Wilson. Washington State finished 4-8 last season, but they were competitive in many of their contests and the problems started on defense.

Leach should help the Cougars become more efficient with his Airraid attack, and help minimize the current weaknesses of the football team. It brings yet another exciting offensive-minded coach to the Pac-12, which has been filling up with innovative minds the last half-decade.

For more on Leach and WSU football, head to CougCenter.

Mike Leach, Washington State Cougars Come To Agreement, According To Report

Washington State athletic director Bill Moos said he was going to work quickly to find a replacement for Paul Wulff, and he did just that. On Wednesday, Leach reportedly agreed to terms with the Washington State Cougars. Leach's name was first floated immediately after the Apple Cup, when initial reports indicating Wulff would not be retained emerged.

Leach has been out of coaching since 2009, when he was unceremoniously dropped by Texas Tech amid a swarm of controversy. Since then, Leach has been embroiled in a wrongful termination lawsuit against Texas Tech, perhaps stifling his ability to get back into coaching.

As the college football coaching carousel whirled to life this past week, Leach's name has been floated for just about every available job. In fact, Leach has been a popular name since he departed Lubbock, though he had yet to rejoin the head coaching ranks.

Leach comes to Pullman with an 84-43 record, including an 11-win season with the Red Raiders in 2008. In his head coaching career, which spanned 10 seasons in Lubbock, Leach has never had a losing season, with a low-mark of 7-6 in his first year at the helm.

For more discussion and analysis of Washington State football, head over to Coug Center to get in on the action. 

Mike Leach Expected To Accept WSU Head Coaching Job, According To Report

The Washington State Cougars have reportedly offered former Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach a job offer for the same position with the Cougars football program, according to the Sportsman-Review's Vince Grippi on Twitter.

Washington State went ahead and fired former head coach Paul Wulff Tuesday after a disappointing 4-8 overall record including going 2-7 in Pac-12 play in 2011. They certainly didn't waste any time getting Leach lined up, flying him out to Pullman today to apparently hash out contract details. 

Leach, a former lawyer, will undoubtedly take his time reviewing the offer before excepting it, though considering he hasn't coached in two full season I'd assume he's itching to get back to the profession he loves. 

The 50 year old Leach owned a 84-43 record as the coach of the Red Radiers, garnering a bowl game each year he was there. He's has ties to Northern and Southern California as well as Wyoming, so coming back to the West coast may be a comfortable move for him. 

For more discussion and analysis of Washington State football, head over to Coug Center to get in on the action.  

Mike Leach 'Strong Leading Candidate' For WSU Football Coach, According to Report

The Washington State Cougars haven't wasted any time in their search for a new head football coach, as multiple reports are surfacing that former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is a leading candidate to take over where Paul Wulff left off. 

Per Joe Schad vis Twitter: 

Not only is Leach considered the front runner at this moment, he also is making his way to Pullman on Wednesday morning, and did not make his usual Wednesday morning appearance on the Sirius/XM radio show College Football Playbook.

per The Seattle Times' Mason Kelly on Twitter: 

Leach, 50, had a 84-43 record as Tech's head coach, with a bowl invitation every year. A Wyoming native born in Northern California, Leach could be a great fit for WSU's rebuilding program. 

For more on Washington State Football, head over to Coug Center to get your fix. 

Mike Leach On 'Short List' For Vacant WSU Football Head Coaching Job

The Washington St. Cougars are ready to move on from the Paul Wulff era and make a big upgrade for the program.  And they have a big target already on their mind.

Mike Leach has been the name bandied about since the beginning as someone the Washington State brass would love to have. Bill Moos has confirmed that speculation at the press conference announcing Wulff's dismissal.

"I know Mike Leach. Actually, Mike was here last spring conducting a clinic ... Pretty good record. I read his book"

It's not hard to see why Leach and Washington State would be a great fit. Like Lubbock, Pullman is a backwater in the conference that has a small but passionate group of fans that are dedicated to their team. Like Lubbock, Pullman should become a perfect place for the eccentric Leach to thrive. And WSU has the talent at quarterback and wide receiver to get the pass offense rolling.

There's a lot to like about Leach out West. It'll be interesting to see if Leach feels the same way.

To discuss the idea of Leach in Pullman, head to CougCenter to talk with Washington State fans.

Bill Moos, Paul Wulff To Hold Press Conferences: Time And Live Stream Information

The Washington St. Cougars are moving on from the Paul Wulff era, and they're ready to make public the reasons for why they're moving on.

Athletic director Bill Moos will be holding a press conference at 2 PM PT to explain the reasons that he let go of Wulff. Moos probably doesn't need to elaborate much on why he's moving on; Wulff was 9-40 as Washington State head coach. You should be able to watch the conference live on WSUCougars.com. The conference will take place in Bohler Athletic Complex Room 186.

Interestingly, the former Cougar head coach is getting his own platform to speak on the issue. Wulff will get a chance to discuss his firing in his own press conference on the Washington State campus. Wulff will be speaking an hour later, and you should be able to watch the conference live on WSUCougars.com as well. It will be interesting to see if Wulff remains composed during the conference and stay diplomatic all the way.

To discuss the firing of Wulff with fellow Cougar fans, head to CougCenter.

Paul Wulff Fired: Coaching Search To Begin Immediately

With the announcement that the Washington State Cougars had fired Paul Wulff on Tuesday, WSU athletic director Bill Moos was adamant that the search for his replacement would begin immediately. The decision came after Wulff and Moos met over the weekend to discuss this past season, according to a press release from the school earlier on Tuesday:

"Paul and I met at length Sunday, and then spoke again this morning, after which I determined the best path for Cougar football moving forward is to have a change of leadership," said Moos. "I appreciate all that Paul has done for Washington State football. He was hired with the objective of rebuilding this program and establishing a solid foundation. For that I thank him."

Moos added that he plans to begin the search for a new head coach immediately.

"We will begin the process of naming the next head coach immediately," said Moos. "I will not be discussing details of the hiring process, only that I expect to name a successful candidate as soon as possible."

Wulff was only 9-40 in his four seasons at WSU. Four of those wins came this season as the Cougars finished 4-8 and 2-7 in the PAC-12.

Paul Wulff Fired As Head Coach Of Washington State

Bill Moos To Hold Tuesday Press Conference To Discuss Paul Wulff's Status

The Washington St. Cougars have yet to make a decision on whether head coach Paul Wullf will stay or will he go. Discussions appear to have been ongoing between the leader of the football team and the leader of the program, athletic director Bill Moos.

Moos has said that he'll hold a press conference in 2 p.m. on Tuesday to talk about the future of Washington State football. It can only mean that WSU is prepared to come to a decision on whether Wulff is being jettisoned or being kept around.

There are plenty of reasons to keep Wulff. The head coach has never had a good situation to deal with since he got there, and there has been steady improvement every year. But Wulff still has had a 9-40 record as head man for the Cougs, and it's clear that Washington State has never really been on the national spotlight in his four years as their leader. The situation could go either way. Don't be surprised if Wulff is sent on his way.

To discuss WSU football, head over to CougCenter.

WSU Football Update: Paul Wulff Not Fired By Bill Moos. Yet.

Washington St. Cougars head coach Paul Wulff and athletic director Bill Moos had a long discussion on Sunday night that made it look as if Wulff would be terminated. Wulff had been rumored to be in danger of being fired after a 4-8 season that fell below the expectations of the program for 2011--namely, a bowl appearance, so at least a 6-6 record. It looked as if tonight would be the meeting where Wulff would be asked to leave the program.

However, it looks as if no one is going to get fired at Pullman tonight. The following comment was made by the athletic director after their meeting. 

"Paul and I met for an hour and a half this afternoon so I could hear his assessment of the season and where he would like to take the program from here. Our discussions will be ongoing."

Further reports indicate there will be more meetings tomorrow. That probably means Moos is still considering keeping Wulff around. That being said, the WSU football coach is probably still in a grave position and the athletic director is just making sure he does the right thing. Wulff could still very well be fired when it's all over.

To discuss Wulff and Washington State football, check out CougCenter.

Mike Leach A Rumored Candidate At Washington State, Should Paul Wulff Be Fired

Following an Apple Cup loss to Washington, all signs are pointing towards Paul Wulff being fired as head coach of the Washington State Cougars. Almost immediately after the game, Bud Withers broke the news that Wulff was likely out as the Washington State head coach, with an announcement to be made on Sunday or Monday. Nothing has been confirmed, but it Wulff's firing seems like all but a done deal.

Vince Grippi of the Spokesman-Review went straight to the man at the top on Saturday night, and the man at the top sidestepped the question. One could certainly look at Bill Moos' answer as quiet confirmation of the story Withers broke.

After Withers' story was posted, we texted athletic director Bill Moos asking if the report was accurate. His answer didn't address that question, just saying he wasn't the source of the information, which I would interpret as a confirmation. We'll see. Earlier, Moos had said he would meet with Wulff on the plane ride back and set a time for a meeting to discuss the future. Whether that would be Sunday, Monday or whenever, he didn't say.

In addition to breaking the news about Wulff's likely exit, Withers also floated one name, and one name only, as a candidate to be the next head coach at Washington State. That name is, of course, Mike Leach.

A reversal of thinking is unlikely, and sources familiar with the process say the Cougars will have former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach at the top of their list of possible replacements.

It's not a surprise Leach would be at the top of the list, nor does it mean Leach sailing to Pullman will happen at the snap of a finger. But it is an angle worth watching, especially over the coming days as we learn more about the coaching situation at Washington State.

For more on Saturday's game, check out our Apple Cup StoryStream. Visit CougCenter to discuss all things Washington State.

Paul Wulff Likely To Be Fired As Washington State Head Coach, According To Report

According to a report following the Apple Cup, Washington State head coach Paul Wulff is likely to be fired. Mike Leach is reportedly at the top of the Cougars' wish list, as well.