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Mike Leach, the larger-than-life coach credited with popularizing the Air Raid offense and transforming modern college football, has been named to the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class just under four years after his death.
Leach’s last coaching stop was at Mississippi State before his death in December 2022.
The National Football Foundation has released the ballot for next year’s class, and the class will be officially revealed in January. The list includes 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from lower levels.
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Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach watches the game against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 17, 2022. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)
Under the previous rules, Leach did not meet the eligibility requirements. But under the revised criteria, he now qualifies for consideration. The NFF announced last year that the minimum career winning percentage required for coaches would drop from .600 to .595, starting with the 2027 class.
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Leach posted a .596 winning percentage during his head coaching tenures at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. He finished his career with a record of 158-107.
Leach coached his teams to victories in 18 games against Top 25 opponents when his team was unranked.
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach arrives at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas on November 6, 2021. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
A player is eligible 10 full seasons after his senior year in college and must have received first-team All-America honors by a major league selector. The nominee’s accomplishments in college football are an important consideration, but his post-football record as a citizen is also considered.
Other FBS coaches on the ballot include Larry Coker, whose Miami team won the 2001 national championship; Dennis Franchione, who made stops at TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M; Ralph Friedgen, who led Maryland to bowls in seven of his 10 seasons; Darryl Rogers, 1977 Big Ten coach of the year at Michigan State; Jackie Sherrill, all-time wins leader at Mississippi State; and Tommy Tuberville, who led powerful Auburn teams in the 2000s.
Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach talks about the quarterback position during Big 12 media day in Irving, Texas on July 29, 2009. (Kelley Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service)
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Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton of Auburn (2010) and Robert Griffin III of Baylor (2011) are on the ballot along with first-time nominees Tavon Austin of West Virginia, Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin, AJ Hawk of Ohio State and Barrett Jones of Alabama.
