Reports: Mike Leach, Mississippi State agree to two-year contract extension

Mississippi State hired head football coach Mike Leach ahead of the 2020 season, and the Bulldogs have now reportedly agreed to extend him. According to multiple reports on Tuesday, Mississippi State and Leach have agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season.

WCBI’s Jon Sokoloff reported the news on Tuesday, but said that terms of the deal had not yet been disclosed. Stefan Krajisnik also confirmed the news of the extension. Financial details within the new deal were not included in these original reports.

Mississippi State went 4-7 overall and 3-7 against SEC opponents in the first season under Leach in 2020. The Bulldogs saw improvement last season, going 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the SEC. Mississippi State lost in the Liberty Bowl to conclude the 2021 campaign.

According to On3’s Jesse Simonton, Mississippi state law only allows contracts to be up to four years in length. Leach’s original deal, which was worth $5 million on an annual basis, was set to expire on December 31, 2023.

At the recent SEC spring meetings, Leach revealed that things were moving forward when pressed about a potential extension with the Bulldogs.

“Everything is moving down the road pretty productively,” Leach said.

Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen also said that the two sides were discussing a potential new deal.

“They’re still working through the process,” he said.

Now, with Leach’s extension reportedly done, he will continue focusing on how to continue seeing improvement on the field next season. Playing in the SEC West is no easy feat, and Mississippi State will have to notably improve to compete in the loaded division with Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU.

Things won’t be easy in 2022, as Mississippi State’s schedule includes tough home games against Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia, and road trips against LSU, Kentucky, Alabama and Ole Miss.