Washington State Gives Mike Leach Big Extension Despite Meltdown After Apple Cup Loss
Whether Washington State football fans want to accept it or not, Mike Leach will continue to coach the team for years to come.
The Cougars announced on Thursday that Leach's contract will be extended through the 2024 season.
Cougars extend Mike Leach through 2024 season!
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 5, 2019
Link | https://t.co/axwEC1kebD#GoCougs | #JoinTheHunt #CougsVsEverybody pic.twitter.com/89sLrAHL0G
Leach has been with the Cougars since 2012, producing solid results despite being a mid-tier Pac-12 team. But 2019 was a down year, as the team went 6-6 and ended with a whimper in the Apple Cup where they lost to in-state rival Washington for the seventh straight season.
For the 7th time in a row, the Huskies are the Apple Cup Champs. ? ?@UW_Football | #Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/AGSMZPYwbP
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 30, 2019
But what made this loss even more noteworthy was Leach's rant against the media in the postgame press conference where he called a reporter a troll for asking about a possible recruiting disadvantage.
Mike Leach was asked about losing his 7th straight Apple Cup, said that recruiting has to do with it, then was asked if he wasn't supposed to beat teams with bigger recruiting classes by Jon Blanchette, and then went off. Called him a sanctimonious troll. pic.twitter.com/jXmG328ZSu
— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) November 30, 2019
Not a good look.
Then again, the Cougar football program has improved during Leach's tenure and there's been fear over the last couple seasons they might lose him to an SEC school, so it's hard to blame them for getting this done as quickly as they did.