Texas Tech Fired Head Coach Mike Leach Following Suspension

Mike Leach was fired by Texas Tech on Wednesday. Mike Leach had been on suspension, but Texas Tech fired Leach rather than try to find common ground on the reason that he was suspended. It's a surprising move by Leach, but it is also showing that Texas Tech may know more than they have revealed about the alleged actions of Mike Leach that led to the suspension in the first place. Texas Tech had suspended Mike Leach for the alleged conduct and treatment he gave to an injured player, and while Leach's lawyer had made a big deal about it in the press, it seems that Texas Tech decided that it was time to move in a different direction as a university.

A hearing about Mike Leach's suspension was scheduled today between Leach and Texas Tech, but rather than host the hearing, Texas Tech delivered a termination letter that was set to go into effect immediately. It basically ends the decision that Texas court's need to make about whether or not to allow Leach to coach the 2010 Alamo Bowl, because he is no longer employed at the University. The allegations about the Texas Tech coach were already very shocking, and when Texas Tech suspended their head coach it really came out of left field. Now Mike Leach has been fired within the week, and the story still hasn't fully begun developing.

The suspended Mike Leach is being accused of confining an injured player in small, dark spaces while the team practiced, including a closet with a guard posted outside the door. The player in question that brought out the complaints is Adam James, who is also the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James. As soon as the allegations came out it seemed like they couldn't possibly be true, because why would Leach do something like this to the son of an analyst that could "cook his goose" on national television. It seemed unbelievable at first, but now that Texas Tech had fired Mike Leach it's starting to look like Leach may have done this.

Under the contract that Mike Leach has with Texas Tech, he can be fired without cause, with Texas Tech only being forced to pay him a $1.6 million clause. It was just this year that Mike Leach signed his new contract for five years and $12.7 million, all stemming from the success he had found as the Texas Tech head coach. He was all set to take the team to yet another bowl game with Texas Tech getting invited to the 2010 Alamo Bowl. That's now ancient history though, ad Texas Tech has fired Mike Leach, and he would now appear to be relegated to the category of coaches that won't find college jobs anytime soon.

Source:

Mike Leach Fired