Texas Tech Fires Mike Leach after 2 days of Suspension
Just after 2 days of being suspended on allegations of mistreating a player, Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was fired. The coach had been suspended after receiver Adam James claimed that he was forcefully confined to an equipment shed two times after suffering a concussion.
The player responsible for the allegations is the son of Craig James, an ESPN college football analyst. The family released a statement about the matter, saying that their son was subjected to actions and treatment inconsistent with rules for health and safety.
Leach was set to meet with representatives of the university for a courtroom hearing on the suspension, but his attorney, Ted Ligget, was informed of his termination only minutes before in a letter. The lawyer says that the allegations are not true and that Leach keeps all of the injured players close to the team so they don’t feel left out. Ligget added that they are trying to fight the decision and have him back in time for the Alama Bowl game against Michigan State on Saturday.
Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has been named the interim head coach by the university and will lead the team during the bowl game - that is, if the termination isn’t reversed. Furthermore, an ESPN spokeswoman said that Craig James will not be announcing the game.
Leach’s dismissal comes after he signed a 5-year contract for $12.7 million in February and was set to get an $800,000 bonus today. Rather than these hefty payments, the coach will only be given a $400,000 per year severance package over the next 4 years.
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