By John Nestor

Pullman, WA

Mike Leach has struck a five-year deal to take over as football coach at Washington State.

Leach enjoyed success previously at Texas Tech, winning 84 games in nine years, but also endured controversy for having a player allegedly sit out a concussion in a construction closet.

He was fired in 2009, but has a pending lawsuit against the school and ESPN, where the player's father, Craig James, serves as a football analyst.

Financial terms of the pact weren't disclosed for the pact but it's believed Leach will be among the top three or four paid coaches in the Pac-12 conference.

Leach replaces Paul Wulff, who went just 9-40 over four years with the Cougars though WSU won four games this past season.

It's been a long dry spell for the Cougars who last played in a bowl game in 2003 after getting to the Rose Bowl the previous year and in 1997.

 

 

Mike Leach to Take Over as Washington State Football Coach