Is Mike Leach in critical condition?

Head coach at Mississippi State University Mike Leach has been deemed to be in critical condition after he was hospitalized Sunday, Dec. 11, following a health scare reported as a “personal health issue.”

“Mike’s family is with him and appreciates the overwhelming expressions of love and support for the coach, but also requests that their family’s privacy be respected at this time,” the school said in a statement on Monday, Dec. 12.

Leach’s last public appearance was on Saturday, Dec. 10 when he led Mississippi State’s preparation for the ReliaQuest Bowl and followed it up with an appearance at an evening holiday party.

As a result of his hospitalization, Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett has been promoted to interim head coach of the Mississippi State University.

Leach is a two-time national coach of the year, three-time conference coach of the year and the mastermind behind the NCAA record-setting “Air Raid” offense.

He is best known for building potent offenses, directing passing-oriented teams in a spread offense system known as the air raid offense, which he developed with Hal Mumme.

Leach was previously the head coach at Texas Tech University from 2000 to 2009, where he became the winningest coach in school history, and at Washington State University from 2012 to 2019, where he recorded the third-most wins of any coach in school history.