Ad Disclosure
Lincoln Riley voices support for Mike Leach’s HOF candidacy during Big Ten Media Days
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Lincoln Riley has entered the fray of voices calling for action related to the Hall of Fame candidacy of the late Mike Leach.
A longtime head coach and an innovator renowned for his air raid offense, Leach tragically passed away in 2022 while serving as the head coach at Mississippi State. While most coaches and fans of the sport recognize Leach is an iconic figure worthy of enshrinement, his career winning percentage checks in just shy of the .600 mark needed for eligibility to be added to the College Football HOF.
Many figures in the sport have since begun advocating for Leach to earn a spot in the HOF, and Riley used his opening remarks at Big Ten Media Days to voice his support for the late coach:
“I know a couple of my counterparts have said some of the same things regarding this notion. Obviously Mike Leach meant a lot to my career, instrumental in my upbringing. I know there’s been a lot of talk and debate about him belonging in the HOF, and I certainly want to voice my support for that happening here on this stage,” said Riley.
“That’s something very important to me. He changed the game and changed a lot of people’s lives, mine included, in the process. I know there are technicalities and rules that have to happen, but I totally agree that the HOF is simply not complete without Mike Leach being in that.”
Riley was a walk-on at Texas Tech during Leach’s tenure as head coach of the Red Raiders. Riley would move into a student assistant role under Leach and would eventually be named a wide receivers coach on Leach’s staff.
Since his time under Leach, Riley has gone on to become one of the top offensive coordinators and head coaches in the country. Riley has produced a trio of Heisman winners during his time as head coach.
During SEC Media Days, Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz was particularly vocal about Leach’s eligibility for the HOF. He called on the College Football HOF to put Leach’s name on the ballot for his longstanding legacy throughout the game.
For now, Leach remains on the outside of eligibility, but it is hard to imagine a world where the head coach is not eventually inducted in some fashion.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.