Another branch hacked from the Stoops coaching tree
In 2007 and 2008, former Oklahoma assistants Mark Mangino and Mike Leach had their teams, Kansas and Texas Tech, in the nation’s top 2 and in the national title hunt.
Now, before 2009 comes to an end, both are unemployed.
Leach was Bob Stoops’ offensive coordinator in 1999 before leaving for Lubbock.
Mangino worked under Stoops as offensive line coach in 1999 before succeeding Leach as offensive coordinator for the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
Leach made a name for himself with his quirks, both offensively and personality…ly. Should he stay outside the conference, the Big 12 will miss both his outings flirting with 70 passes and his dating advice.
Remember, always look for the underneath receiver in space, and never take a girl out to a restaurant that’s too formal on a first date.
Oh, and there was also that one play that OU fans might be just a little bit thankful for.
Leach will surely field calls from programs with coaching vacancies in the weeks that follow, but for my sake, I hope he spends at least a season or two as an analyst somewhere. Charles Barkley would no longer be the only must-watch voice on TV.
On a serious note, though, is it not somewhat strange that Texas Tech would hire Bob Knight to coach its basketball team after he was fired after being accused of plenty of incidents far more scandalous than forcing a player to study outside in the cold or stand in a dark equipment garage?
Just a thought.
But Texas Tech now has a vacancy of its own, and the race to fill it should be something to watch. Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, another Stoops disciple, could be a favorite, but he might be better served to stick around Houston for another season or two and wait for a job that doesn’t require him to knock off Texas and/or Oklahoma to win more than an Alamo Bowl trophy.
Plenty of names other than Sumlin will emerge in the coming days. So will the torch-bearing hordes that want Leach reinstated.
Lubbock, Texas is many things. When Mike Leach is involved, boring is rarely one of them.
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Comments
[...] also faced allegations of abusing players which forced him out of Lawrenceville. Coincidentally, both had coached under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma and both had their teams in the BCS title hunt in the past two years. With the shake ups at both programs, it’s conceivable that Kansas and [...]
Leach should get the DumbaXX awards. A simple apology and he would have no problems. It makes me sick that people put such an emphasis on winning in sports that they can not be decent human beings.
Apologize for what Brad? This is just another example of the tail wagging the dog. This thing has been building with the James’ since the summer when Craig was at pretty much every practice, and without coming right out and saying it, he wanted his son in the starting line up. ESPN is just as guilty in this too. To give Craig James a forum for this like they have is reprehensible. I wouldn’t have apologized either. Should have sent him a kiss my ass note instead.
How much support would Leach have if he were not winning? I highly doubt that he would have any. Just because he wins a few games does make him or any coach God. He needs to act like a normal human being and sending some kid to a closet in my opinion is not normal. Coaches get a pass on their actions. Why not have college professors send their failing students to the closet as well to get them to study harder.
I doubt we’re getting the whole story about Mike and James. I doubt the suits at TTech are all that innocent.
If you had a concussion and were treated the same way that the James kid was treated would you think it was acceptable. Half of Americans would be calling there lawyer to sue. The way Leach uses lawyers, he probably would have sued Texas Tech if he had been treated that way.
I’m not going to say that Leach was perfect, but I had two kids play college athletics and they both had much worse stories than they were put in a dark room. Really? That was the sum of it? You don’t always have to like your boss. I coached in college and there’s nothing worse than when a kid who isn’t playing as much as he wants tries to push the coach’s buttons. College is about backing off, giving our kids room to grow up, encourging them to make the right decisions that they have control of, and learning how to get along with those in authority over you. Fans should start reading between the lines. Don’t you wonder why this kid wasn’t playing at SMU where his dad played? And if Leach was made to apologize, how does he ever put pressure on a talented, but slothful, kid to work harder. Bottom line, whether he’s playing football or working his job, follow the rules. He was supposed to be dressed in practice gear. Seems like a simple rule to follow. Do what you’re supposed to do.
My problem with Leach is that he stooped to engage in a personality clash with a player. Because of his arrogance, he let the fact that the player had a dad in a high sports reporting position peak his interest in engaging in a personal level. He doesn’t have to send a personal “little message” to any player who may be a slacker. He just lets the natural selection process take care of it. And, yes his arrogance showed itself when he refused to work with the school. I like Leach and do think he is an interesting person and a good coach, but anytime an AD and a HC don’t get along, it’s never good for a program…something has to give. Can you imagine Stoops being insubordinate to Castiglione?…hardly.
leach isn’t the typical texas good ol’e boy, and bobby is a crony of the AD.
bobby always been the punk of the coaching world. one thing about leach,
he had stoopsy’s number in lubbock, of course, everybody has stoops
number on the road, so i guess that’s not saying much. hopefully stoops
will pick up a few pointers from some of the more successful bowl programs
this time around.