Nick Saban Releases Statement Following Death Of Mike Leach

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The college football world is mourning the loss of an unforgettable personality and one of the most innovative minds in the sport with the death of Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach.

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Mississippi State said in a statement Tuesday morning that Leach died Monday night at a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi after being admitted due to a serious heart condition. He was 61.

"Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather," the Leach family said in a statement provided through the university. "He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity. We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father's life."

Following the news released Tuesday morning, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Leach was a friend and he was deeply saddened by his unexpected passing.

"I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know mike over the last several years," Saban said. "I never knew quite where our conversations were going, but they always made me smile. He was an offensive innovator who always did things his way and was admired for it. His teams were well-coached and extremely challenging to defend. They played with poise and toughness, which is a credit to his leadership. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sharon, their children and the entire Mississippi State family."

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