Mississippi State girls’s basketball coach Sam Purcell paid tribute to Mike Leach on Thursday night time, donning a Hawaiian shirt like the long-lasting soccer coach so typically did.
The touching transfer got here through the Bulldogs’ 72-47 residence victory over Florida A&M, simply two days after the 61-year-old Leach died following a coronary heart assault suffered at residence on Sunday.
The varsity introduced Monday that Leach was in essential situation and the beloved coach handed away the next day, prompting an outpouring of well-wishers together with Purcell.
‘Hopefully he is wanting up from above and he was proud,’ he instructed reporters after his tribute on Thursday night time.
‘However I believe like anyone, what an awesome man and that was simply my two cents to throw a bit of love for a man that we’re actually gonna miss.’
Purcell added that Leach referred to him as his ‘vogue buddy’ over their shared love of garments after the previous was employed by Mississippi State, and Purcell is way from the one individual with fond recollections of the eccentric play-caller.
Leach (left) handed away Monday night time on the College of Mississippi Medical Heart
Actor Matthew McConaughey remembered the coach on Twitter after his dying, praising the revolutionary offensive thoughts as a ‘gem’ alongside a photograph of the pair.
‘My buddy Mike Leach moved on yesterday,’ he stated within the submit.
‘Probably the most curious, ingenious, impartial minded wild males to ever stroll the earth. He was a gem like no different. Put a prayer up there for his his spouse Sharon and their youngsters.
Whereas Leach achieved nice success on the sector, he was additionally identified for his humorousness.
He routinely ventured into sudden territory together with his press availabilities, discussing subjects equivalent to sweet, marriage and pirates at size and thus bringing a refreshing little bit of persona to a sport that usually takes itself very significantly.
After the loss, Mississippi State College President Mark E. Keenum added, ‘Coach Mike Leach solid an amazing shadow not simply over Mississippi State College, however over the whole faculty soccer panorama.
‘His modern ”Air Raid” offense modified the sport. Mike’s eager mind and unvarnished candor made him one of many nation’s true teaching legends. His passing brings nice disappointment to our college, to the Southeastern Convention, and to all who cherished faculty soccer.
The video board at Davis Wade Stadium shows a message in reminiscence of Leach on Tuesday
‘I’ll miss Mike’s profound curiosity, his honesty, and his wide-open strategy to pursuing excellence in all issues.
Leach was identified for popularizing the pass-heavy Air Raid offense, and was in his third yr teaching Mississippi State after profitable stints with Texas Tech and Washington State.
He had a 158-107 report as a coach.