Mike Leach

MIKE LEACH INTERVIEWED for the Mississippi State head coaching job this week. ESPN radio host Bo Bounds told colleague Paul Finebaum that Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen traveled to Key West to meet with the Washington State coach.

According to @bobounds, AD John Cohen went to Key West this week and interviewed Mike Leach for the vacant Mississippi State job. — Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) January 8, 2020

A plane owned by a major donor at Mississippi State was recently tracked flying into The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport.

The Washington State coach was first seriously tabbed as a darkhorse candidate for the Bulldogs job on Tuesday by the 247 Mississippi State site. INCYMI, click here.

Leach met with Arkansas last month in Lewiston about its head coach opening, with the Razorbacks eventually hiring Georgia offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

Others who have been mentioned as potential candidates for the Mississippi State job include Alabama OC and former UW and USC head coach Steve Sarkisian, Louisiana-Lafayette's Billy Napier, Louisiana Tech's Skip Holtz, and others.

Mississippi State's rival, Ole Miss, hired Lane Kiffin as its new coach in December.

The MSU opening came about after Joe Moorhead was fired Jan. 3. Moorhead was thought to be safe after MSU's win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl but off the field issues coupled with a bowl loss resulted in his dismissal after two seasons.

Leach in eight seasons at WSU has a 55-47 record and is the third winningest coach in Cougars history behind Babe Hollingbery (93-53-14) and Mike Price (83-78). Leach this season became the first Wazzu head coach to lead the Cougs to five-straight bowl games. He also passed Price for the most bowl appearances (6) in WSU history.

There is some real interest on both sides between Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and Mississippi State. It’s something to keep an eye on. — Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) January 8, 2020