Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach hospitalized

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach was hospitalized Sunday after what university officials called “a personal health issue” at his home.

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In a statement, the university did not provide any details about what prompted Leach’s visit to the hospital. The statement did state that Leach, 61, was taken by ambulance to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, which is about 125 miles from the coach’s residence in Starkville.

“The university will make no other comment at this time other than to say that the thoughts and prayers of the university are with Mike and (his wife) Sharon and their family,” the statement said.

Late in the season, Leach said he was dealing with health issues that were causing a persistent cough, according to The Associated Press.

Leach is in his third season as Mississippi State’s head coach and has a 19-17 record, including an 8-4 mark in 2022. Overall, Leach has coached 21 seasons. He coached for 10 years at Texas Tech and eight seasons at Washington State before coming to Starkville. Overall, Leach has a 158-107 record with 17 bowl appearances.

The Bulldogs are headed to the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida, to face Illinois on Jan. 2.

The university said that defensive coordinator Zach Arnett will run the football program until Leach returns.

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