Mike Leach takes turn in spotlight of UT Vols coaching search

Tennessee’s coaching search is like a dating show.

Each day brings a new candidate who must accept or reject the Vols’ proposal.

Friday is Mike Leach’s turn in the spotlight.

Reports surfaced late Thursday and early Friday that the Vols’ had made Leach the latest focus in their search to replace Butch Jones, who was fired nearly three weeks ago.

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Leach met with Tennessee athletic director John Currie on Thursday in Los Angeles to discuss the Vols’ job, the AP reported, citing a source with knowledge of the situation. Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports and SI.com reported that the meeting “went very well.” Feldman and Leach wrote a book together, “Swing Your Sword,” which published in 2011.

Reporters asked Leach on Friday morning, after he deplaned at the Pullman, Wash., airport, whether he had discussions about the Tennessee job on Thursday.

"If I had, I wouldn't tell you, and if I hadn't, I wouldn't tell you," Leach told reporters. 

On Friday morning, ESPN.com's Chris Low reported that "no deal has been struck" with Leach and that Currie was scheduled to meet with Chancellor Beverly Davenport to "reassess the search."

Leach has had 13 winning seasons in 16 years as a head coach. This is his sixth season at Washington State, which is 9-3 and preparing for its third straight bowl appearance. He also coached Texas Tech from 2000-09.

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Leach is considered a top offensive mind. He hails from the Hal Mumme coaching tree. Leach coached for 10 seasons under Mumme, the architect of the "Air Raid" offense. That included two years when Leach was Mumme's offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 1997-98. Those are Leach's only seasons spent in the SEC.

Mumme's influence can be seen in Leach, whose teams are known for having an aerial assault. The Cougars have passed the ball on more than 69 percent of their plays this season, and WSU quarterback Luke Falk ranks sixth in the nation in passing yardage.

Leach's best season came in 2008 at Texas Tech. Led by senior quarterback Graham Harrell, who paced the nation with 5,111 passing yards, the Red Raiders went 11-2. Texas Tech was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country that season. The 11 wins tied for the most in program history.

Leach, 56, is making $3.08 million at Washington State. His contract there is good through the 2021 season and calls for a $2.25 million buyout.

Leach would come with some baggage. He was fired at Texas Tech after allegations that he mistreated a player, Adam James, with a concussion.

Leach denied the allegation and sued Texas Tech for wrongful termination. An appellate court threw out Leach's lawsuit, ruling the university had sovereign immunity. The Texas Supreme Court rejected Leach's appeal in 2012.

He's still miffed about how things ended at Texas Tech.

If the Vols landed Leach, it would be a stunning turn of events for a coaching search that has morphed into a national punchline as rejections piled up on Tennessee.

The Vols were close to finalizing a deal with Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano on Sunday. News of the pending hire leaked, and it was met by a wave of backlash from some fans, state politicians, local business owners and donors. The deal unraveled.

The blowback centered, in part, around testimony released in 2016 regarding Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coordinator who was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of sexual abuse of boys.

Schiano was on staff at Penn State from 1990-95. Former Penn State staffer Mike McQueary testified that fellow assistant Tom Bradley told McQueary that Schiano was aware of a child sexual abuse incident by Sandusky.

Schiano and Bradley denied having knowledge or witnessing any of Sandusky's abuse. McQueary's hearsay claim remains unsubstantiated.

Currie said in a statement Monday that Tennessee "carefully interviewed and vetted" Schiano, including his Penn State background, and that Schiano "received the highest recommendations." 

After backing away from the deal with Schiano, there were reports of the Vols being spurned by four coaches – Duke's David Cutcliffe, Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, Purdue's Jeff Brohm and North Carolina State's Dave Doeren – in as many days.