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10 College football coaches who probably didn’t deserve to be fired

By Michael Collins

Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach looks on during a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach looks on during a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Mike Leach – Texas Tech, 2009

Head Coaching Years: 2000-2009
Overall record with school: 84-43
Reason for dismissal: Athletic Director decision

Mike Leach and Texas Tech were the college football edition of the ugly divorce, with neither party wanting to give in to the other side.

Leach had the Red Raiders doing things no one believed could be done, and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football was touting them as the possible “best team in Texas” in 2008. While they did finish with just a single loss during that season (to Oklahoma), they were shut out of the three-way Big 12 tiebreaker with the Sooners and Texas Longhorns.

But it wasn’t Leach’s job performance that led to his downfall. Like so many others, treatment of players and off-field issues came into question.

Accusations by former ESPN analyst Craig James as to the treatment of his son Adam, who was playing for Leach at the time, led to a spiraling downward slide of finger-pointing and lawsuits, including an injunction sought by Leach which would have allowed him to coach in the Alamo bowl after his firing in 2009.

It’s a shame things came down to a series of ugly court battles, because there was something special happening in Lubbock under Leach.

Next: Auburn, Part 2

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