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Newsstand: Marcus Freeman tweets tribute to Mike Leach

On3 imageby: Patrick Engel12/14/22PatrickEngel_
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Mike Leach (left) and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman (Photos by Justin Ford and Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Every corner of college football felt the loss of Mike Leach Tuesday. Among those to offer condolences was Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

Freeman tweeted condolences Tuesday morning shortly after Mississippi State announced that Leach, its head coach since 2020, had died at age 61.

“Such an overwhelming feeling of sadness with the loss of Coach Leach,” Freeman’s tweet read. “Regretfully, I never got to meet him, but his immense impact on the college football world is very visible.

“We’re sending our love & compassion to Coach Leach’s family & his beloved Mississippi State program.”

Leach passed away Monday night from complications of a heart condition. He was airlifted to a Jackson, Miss. hospital Sunday with what Mississippi State said was a “health issue.”

Leach was 158-107 in 21 seasons as an FBS head coach at Texas Tech (2000-09), Washington State (2012-19) and Mississippi State (2020-22). Freeman, who began coaching in 2010 as a grad assistant at Ohio State, did not oppose Leach in a game.  

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“The success of one comes from the hard work of many… Grateful to everyone who’s been a part of this journey!! GO IRISH!!!”

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