Mike Leach: The Authentic Leader

College football lost an authentic and iconic leader with the passing of Mississippi State Coach Mike Leach on Monday. 

Leach was unconventional in everything he did, from his career path to his interactions with the media, coaches, players and staff. He truly took the road less traveled to become one of the brightest offensive minds in the game.   

Leach didn't play college football; instead, he graduated from law school — yet never practiced law. He began his coaching journey at Cal Poly San Luis-Obispo, then went to College of the Desert, before heading to Finland to gain his first head coaching position. 

He developed his ideas and thoughts along this path and was always divergent in his approach. Applying his training from law school to ask pointed and thought-provoking questions, Leach never settled for conventional wisdom.

He became an offensive coordinator in the SEC and Big 12, before eventually taking over at Texas Tech, where his authenticity and charisma were on display for the nation to see.

There are many ways to describe Leach: Funny, quirky, strange, different, peculiar, wacky, but, above all, completely honest.

The real lesson he leaves behind for all to emulate is that being true to oneself is the cornerstone of any great leader. Leach never tried to be anyone but Mike Leach.

He didn't care that most coaches went to work before the sun rose; he went midday. He didn't care that most coaches drove their cars to work; he preferred to walk. He didn't care if he didn't recruit five-star high school players; he only cared about recruiting the players he felt fit his system.

Leach was authentic every day — which made everyone love being around him.  

Authentic leaders, like Leach, have the following traits:

1. Explore their life story. They need to process their experiences, understand the things they’ve gone through, and discover who they are. When you dive into your understanding of yourself, you’re better able to be yourself and let others see that side of you. Leach personified this every day.

2. Ask questions and be curious. Leach loved to learn and loved to teach. He was curious to find alternative ways to generate a stronger leadership base. He taught a class on strategy to students in the off-season, one of the more-popular courses on campus. His office was filled with Pirates and Indian Chiefs, which helped shape his strategies for competition.

3. Authentic leaders understand what kind of leadership style comes naturally to them. They understand their situation and the people they manage, and they can adapt their style as needed to fit that situation while staying true to themselves. As Leach proved, flexible styles aren’t inauthentic because they come from a genuine place and are part of the compassion and heart leaders have to make the best connection with their employees.

The best way we can honor the legacy of Mike Leach is to practice his authentic style in our own way — while remaining insatiably curious.

Rest in peace, Coach.

You will be missed.