Inside The Panthers

Pitt Football Mourns Loss of Mississippi State HC Mike Leach

The Pitt Panthers joined in college football's mourning of Mike Leach.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Football Mourns Loss of Mississippi State HC Mike Leach
Pitt Football Mourns Loss of Mississippi State HC Mike Leach /
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PITTSBURGH -- Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach was one of the most eccentric, but also essential figures in college football. So when he passed due to complications from a heart attack, the entire sport came together to remember him, including the Pitt Panthers. 

"Devastated for the Mississippi State community, his family and all who were impacted by Coach Leach," Pitt football's Twitter account posted. "We mourn with you." 

Panthers safety Rashad Battle also offered his condolences. 

He was a two-time national coach of the year, three-time conference coach of the year and an innovator of the air raid offense. Leach parlayed his career playing college rugby at BYU into a position coaching offensive line at Cal Poly. He coached at community colleges and in Finland before returning state side to call offenses and coach quarterbacks at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Kentucky and Oklahoma. 

Leach took his first head coaching gig at Texas Tech in 2009, then moved on to take the same role at Washington State. He had led the Mississippi State program for the past two years prior to his passing. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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