Cindy Hyde-Smith: “I come to the floor today to pay tribute to a very special man who was held dear by many Mississippians, Mississippi…”

“I come to the floor today to pay tribute to a very special man who was held dear by many Mississippians, Mississippi State University head coach Mike Leach, who passed away on December 12, 2022. Today, thousands of Mississippians and people from across the country will gather in Starkville to celebrate the life of Mike Leach, who began his coaching at Mississippi State in 2020. Coach Leach's quirkiness, youthful spirit, and dynamic coaching style immediately endeared him to football fans across my State. His likeable and unique personality broke barriers among schools. Whether you were cheering for Mississippi State, Jackson State, Ole Miss, Southern, or any other school, you couldn't help but chuckle at the entertaining sideline interviews or admire how his ``Air Raid'' offense was changing the game. Coach Leach was an attorney. He started his coaching career shortly after graduating from law school. Mike Leach made a lasting impact on the game of football, to be sure, but, more importantly, his extraordinary leadership and passion for the game made a lasting impact on his players, his colleagues, and his loved ones. These remarks can't fully encompass Mike Leach's life as a husband, father, grandfather, scholar, mentor, and charitable man. Still, Mississippi is blessed to have been able to call Mike Leach one of our own these past years. While our State mourns, we remain grateful for the memories and the stories his legacy leaves.…”