Mississippi State coach Mike Leach reportedly suffered a “massive heart attack” Sunday at his home and remained hospitalized Monday.
The university announced Sunday afternoon that Leach had been transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., after experiencing what it called a “personal health issue.”
“That is the extent of information that MSU has available regarding Coach Leach’s condition,” the statement read, “and 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 Sharon and their family.”
The Clarion Ledger reported Monday that Leach had suffered a heart attack at his Starkville home and EMTs used a defibrillator multiple times to restore his heart rhythm. The report, which cited unnamed sources, said Leach was transported to a local hospital via ambulance, then flown by helicopter to the hospital in Jackson, about 125 miles away.
The newspaper reported Leach “may have suffered seizures with the possibility of brain damage” and called the situation “dire.”
Leach, 61, is in his third season at Mississippi State. He is 19-17 in that time, including an 8-4 record in 2022. His team has improved its record year-over-year in each season under Leach, going from 4-7 in 2020 to 7-6 in 2021 and 8-4 — potentially 9-4 — in 2022.
The university on Sunday named Bulldogs defensive coordinator Zach Arnett as the team’s interim coach “until Coach Leach returns” amid bowl preparation. The 22nd-ranked Bulldogs will play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2.
It’s uncertain how long Leach will be out, or if he will be available for Mississippi State’s bowl game. The fact the Bulldogs have named an interim coach suggests it will somewhat impact the team’s practices leading up to the bowl game.
Arnett, 36, is in his third season at Mississippi State, each as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Prior to his stay in Starkville, he served as a graduate assistant at San Diego State from 2011 through 2013. Following that, he served as linebackers coach for the Aztecs from 2014 through 2017 before adding defensive coordinator responsibilities for the 2018 and ’19 seasons.
