Tennessee’s search for a new head football coach has made no sense whatsoever. And not even 12 hours after getting turned down by another head coach, the Vols are reportedly pursuing and potentially close to bringing in yet another coach.
According to multiple reports, Washington State head coach Mike Leach is being targeted as the Vols’ next head coach. And according to Newy Scruggs, an NBC Sports radio host, Leach is “working on a deal” to become the next head coach at Tennessee. He also says a deal could be announced on Friday.
Sources tell @NBCDFWSports that former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is working on a deal to become the next coach at Tennessee. A deal could be announced Friday. I’m working on more details.
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) December 1, 2017
In 16 years as a head coach, Leach has compiled a 122-80 record at both Texas Tech and Washington State. He was 84-43 at Texas Tech before being fired after the 2009 season. In fact, that firing has been a point of contention for Leach, and he even sued Tech over it.
Leach just finished his sixth season with Washington State and led them to one of their best seasons in recent memory. The Cougars were 9-3 this season and were ranked as high as No. 8 in the country. Before Leach took over as head coach in 2012, the Cougars hadn’t had a winning season since 2003 when they went 10-3. Leach went 3-9 in his first season before taking Washington State to a bowl game in his second season. But the Cougars finished 6-7 that year.
Washington State went 3-9 again in his third season. But since then, Leach has helped Washington State to three consecutive bowl appearances and an overall record of 26-12 in that span.
Several reports surfaced on Thursday night that Tennessee athletic director John Currie had traveled to the west coast on Thursday and met with Leach. Gridiron Now reporter John Brice was the first to report that news.
Now several folks, including someone at Washington St., tell me Currie interviewed Mike Leach & possibly 1-2 other candidates today in the Los Angeles area.
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) December 1, 2017
We will have more on this story as it develops.
