Mike Leach Position: Head Coach Birthdate: 03/09/1961 Experience: Eighth Season Degree: B.S. American Studies, Brigham Young University

Mike Leach, arguably one of the most innovative offensive coaches in the country, has not only transformed Texas Tech Football, but also the face of college football with an all-out aerial assault. This is evidenced by the number of programs incorporating more passing into their schemes than before. Leach's offense has become a hot, imitable commodity; but none have mastered it like the eighth-year Red Raider head coach.

Leading the nation's most prolific passing offenses in the country, Leach, who received the All-American Football Foundation's Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award last year, spreads the field with his exciting brand of football and guided the Red Raiders to four-straight NCAA passing titles and three-consecutive total offense titles during his tenure. Leach's offense produced school records in nearly every passing category in 2000, but surpassed those numbers in each of the last seven seasons. His seven teams have combined for over 151 team and individual records at Tech.

Texas Tech has established itself as one of the nation's leading producer of quarterbacks since the 2000 season. Quarterback Graham Harrell turned in the fourth-best single-season passing performance for a sophomore in NCAA history, throwing for 4,555 yards in his starting debut last year. Tech also won at least eight games for the fifth-straight season for the first time in school history. Cody Hodges and Kliff Kingsbury each posted nine-win seasons during their careers, while 2003 and 2004 signal callers B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie and Harrell each won eight games in their respective seasons as the starter.

In 2003, Symons, a Heisman Trophy candidate, capped off his senior season with an NCAA Passing Championship and an NCAA single-season record 5,833 passing yards. A year earlier, Kliff Kingsbury finished his senior campaign ranked in total offense (2nd), completions (1st), attempts (1st) and passing touchdowns (1st). The record-setting quarterback also set 17 NCAA records during his career and tied three other marks.

The Red Raiders have improved their total offensive numbers from 324.8 yards per game to as high as 582.8 yards per game since Leach's arrival. The last seven seasons rank as the top seven all-time at Tech in total offense, while scoring went from 23 points per game in 1999 to 32.5 points last season. The most significant increase has been in the passing game, where the Red Raiders averaged 369.5 yards per game in 2004 compared to 175.4 yards in 1999.

The running game has flourished as well under Leach. Running back Taurean Henderson rushed for 17 scores in 2005 to rank among the top scoring backs in the country. His touchdown total was the most for a Red Raider since Byron Morris rushed for 22 in 1993. The Red Raiders' 25 total rushing scores were the most for a Tech team since the 1996 campaign yielded 27.

Despite Tech's offense revolving around the pass, Leach has done a tremendous job of incorporating the running back position into the mix. Henderson finished his career with 303 receptions, which ranks first in NCAA history among running backs and fourth overall. Coupled with his talents on the ground, Henderson's NFL stock rose dramatically each season due to his versatility.

Additionally, recruiting has been one of the top beneficiaries since Leach's arrival in December 1999. The Red Raiders' 2006 recruiting class was once again ranked among the top 25. From his first class in the spring of 2000 to this year's list of newcomers, each class continues to get better. Not only is Texas Tech recruiting the Texas area, but Leach also is extending the reach of the program across the country.

The level of recruiting Leach and his staff have attained has reflected in the success of the team. One of the most recognizable areas is the offensive line. The unit has continually improved each season and boasts more size and strength than the past.

The Red Raiders are not solely known for their play on the scoring side of the ball. The Texas Tech defense also has flourished during Leach's six seasons. The Red Raiders tied for the national lead with three shutouts in 2000 and followed with others in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Combined with the six shutouts are six other games where the opposition was held without an offensive touchdown. Tech's shutout of Baylor in Waco during the 2005 season marked Tech's first blanking of a conference opponent on the road since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.

The play of the special teams has improved with each season as well. Placekicker Alex Trlica finished his junior season with a mark of 51-of-51 on extra points, marking only the seventh time in school history for a perfect season. Graduated punter Alex Reyes ranked among the Big 12's top punters during his final two seasons. Tech's kickoff, punting and return teams also have seen a dramatic improvement in the last six seasons. Additionally, the Red Raiders rank among the top 15 programs in the country in returns (kickoff, punt, fumble and interception) for touchdowns since the 2000 season.

While leading the Red Raiders to 56 wins in his seven seasons, Leach is the only coach in school history to lead his first seven teams to bowl games. The 56 wins are the most in a Tech head coach's first seven seasons.

Although Leach's presence has been felt throughout the team, it also has been beneficial for the players individually.

Symons was the second Tech quarterback to receive The Touchdown Club of Columbus' Sammy Baugh Trophy (Kingsbury in 2002) and was named the Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year. Symons capped off his senior season with an invitation to the 2004 NFL Combine. The Heisman Trophy candidate was the fourth in a line of Leach-coached quarterbacks to be mentioned as a candidate for the award - Tim Couch at Kentucky, Josh Heupel at Oklahoma and Kingsbury.

Kingsbury, a 2002 All-Big 12 first-team quarterback and sixth-round draft pick of the Patriots, led the Big 12 Conference in several passing categories over his final three seasons and was a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2002. He also was named the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year for football and was awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New York City.

In 2004, inside receiver Trey Haverty became the first Associated Press All-American since Montae Reagor in 1998, when he was selected to the third team following last season's campaign. Free safety Dwayne Slay earned first-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated last season, marking the first in seven seasons. Slay was one of the country's most punishing tacklers last season and led the conference and finished second nationally with eight forced fumbles.

In addition to Slay, linebacker Lawrence Flugence and defensive end Aaron Hunt also gained national attention during their careers. Both were named to All-America teams in 2002 and were listed as candidates for various national awards. Hunt was drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, while Flugence signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. In 2003, strong safety Ryan Aycock was one of the top defensive players in the country, reeling in six interceptions and 101 tackles.

Texas Tech sent five players to the 2007 NFL Combine, tied for the most for Tech in the history of the event. Leach has coached several quarterbacks that have gone on to the NFL, including Kingsbury, Couch, Heupel and Symons. While at Tech, 13 players have been drafted and 18 others have signed free agent contracts. Guard Manny Ramirez was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, while wide receiver Joel Filani and defensive end Keyunta Dawson was taken in the sixth and seventh rounds by Tennessee and Indianapolis, respectively. Offensive tackle E.J. Whitley was chosen in the seventh round of the 2006 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, while center Dylan Gandy was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Daniel Loper and linebacker Mike Smith were picked in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively, in 2004 by the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.

The team continues to make strides academically as well under Leach. In 2006 eight players were working on postgraduate degrees. For the last seven years Tech has been recognized as one of the nation's top institutions for consistently being above a 70 percent gradation rate, according to the American Football Coaches Association.

Prior to coming on board at Texas Tech, Leach, in just one season at Oklahoma, directed a Sooner offense that went from one of the worst in the Big 12 Conference to one of the best. Under Leach's tutelage, Heupel was named 1999 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. For his efforts, Leach was nominated for the 1999 Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country.

Leach guided an Oklahoma offense that went from 11th in the Big 12 in 1998 to first in 1999 and 101st in the nation to 11th. In just one year, OU's total offense numbers improved from 293.3 to 427.2 yards per game.

The rise in passing and scoring offense categories is just as impressive. Oklahoma went from last to first in the Big 12 in passing offense in one year, from 107th in the country to ninth. Under Leach, the Sooners improved from 109.9 yards passing per game to 321.7 yards per game.

In 1998, Oklahoma was last in the Big 12 and 101st in the country in scoring offense at 16.7 points per game. In 1999, the Sooners improved to second in the league and eighth in the country in scoring at 36.8 points per game, an increase of just over 20 points per game.

Under Leach, the Oklahoma offense set six Big 12 Conference and 17 OU records. The Sooners were one of only two schools in the nation to have six players with 20 or more receptions in 1999.

Prior to joining Bob Stoops' Oklahoma staff, Leach served as offensive coordinator for Hal Mumme at the University of Kentucky and Valdosta (Ga.) State University.

For two years at Kentucky under Mumme, Leach coached the Kentucky "Air Raid" offense that was one of the most explosive in Southeastern Conference history. Under Mumme and Leach, the Kentucky offense set six NCAA records, 41 Southeastern Conference records and 116 school records in 22 games.

Kentucky's offense produced more than 500 yards of total offense in seven separate games, including a school-record 801 against Louisville.

Leach's Kentucky offense featured the talented Couch, who passed for 4,275 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior.

Named 1996 Division II Offensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Quarterly magazine, Leach helped Mumme lead Valdosta State to a 40-17-1 record. The 1993 Blazer offense smashed 66 school records, 22 conference records and seven national records. In 1994, Valdosta State advanced to the Division II playoffs with Leach's offense shattering 80 school records, 35 conference records and seven more national marks.

Leach and Mumme first teamed up at Iowa Wesleyan College in 1989. From 1989 to 1991 he served as offensive coordinator and line coach for an offense that led the NAIA in passing yardage one season and finished second the other two. Iowa Wesleyan passed for more than 11,000 yards in Leach's three seasons and broke 26 national records.

Leach has also made coaching stops in Pori, Finland, where he served as head coach in the European Football League (1989), as well as one-year assistant stints at College of the Desert (1988) and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (1987).

After graduating with honors from Brigham Young in 1983, Leach earned a Master's Degree from the United States Sports Academy and his law degree from Pepperdine University, where he graduated in the top one-third of his class.

The oldest of six siblings, Leach and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of four children; Janeen (21), Kim (17), Cody (10) and Kiersten (8). Janeen will begin medical school at Texas Tech this fall, after graduating from BYU in the spring.