When Washington State Athletic Director, Bill Moos, dismissed Paul Wulff as football coach earlier this week, he vowed his search would conclude with a coach who would not only bring excitement to his fan base, but also have a high-octane offense to match.
Consider that promise kept.
Washington State announced its acquisition of former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach Wednesday.
“This is an exciting day for Washington State University and Cougar football,” Moos said. “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.”
The credentials Moos speaks of includes Leach leading Texas Tech to a bowl game in every one of his 10 years as coach of the program, including an 11-win season in 2008 that concluded with a Cotton Bowl berth.
Leach will reportedly be paid more than $2 million annually and his contract will stretch five years. For that kind of ransom, he will be asked to resurrect a program that hasn’t had a winning record or bowl berth sin
ce 2003.
“I am excited to be a part of the future at Washington State,” Leach said. “It’s a university on the move that is experiencing growth. I’m excited about what they are doing with the facilities and it’s a team that has battled through some hard times and shows great promise in the future.”
Leach, who is well regarded for his offensive prowess, will be given thekeys to an already potent Cougar offense that averaged 29.8 points a game, even without quarterback Jeff Tuel. It will also return Pac-12 All-second team wide receiver Marquess Wilson, who hauled in 82 receptions for 1388 yards in his sophomore campaign.
In the hiring Moos acknowledged the Pac-12’s new lucrative television deal had played a role in Washington State’s ability to offer their new head man nearly quadruple what Wulff made in his final year as Washington State’s coach. In shelling out the necessary dollars for the big name in Leach, Moos expressed that he hoped it would encourage fans of Washington State to do the same for the program.
Washington State isn’t the first Pac-12 program to fill it’s vacancy with a
well known college football name. Last week the University of Arizona filled its vacancy left when it dismissed Mike Stoops with former West Virginia and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.
UCLA, in the wake of dismissing Rick Neuheisel, has been connected to Chris
Peterson of Boise State, while Arizona State, after dismissing Dennis Erickson, is said to be in discussions with Kevin Sumlin of Houston.