IRVING, Texas – He only coached at Washington State University for seven seasons, but the late Mike Leach will forever be remembered by fans who root for the crimson and gray.
Now, Leach is eligible to be immortalized in the College Football Hall of Fame, along with several others who have ties to WSU.
The National Football Foundation announced Monday the 2027 ballot of those under consideration.
Leach is one of nine coaches on the list, which also includes another former WSU coach and a former WSU player.
Jackie Sherrill coached one year at WSU in 1976, then went on to coach at Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
Leach is considered the mastermind of the air raid offense. He coached at Texas Tech before coming to WSU. He led the Cougs to their highest winning percentage in program history and took the team to five straight bowl games.
He then moved on to Mississippi State.
Leach died in December 2022.
Former WSU quarterback Ryan Leaf is one of the players on the ballot this year.
Leaf was a first team All-American in 1997 and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year. He led the Cougs to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years.
Also on the list is Kellen Moore, former Boise State quarterback and Prosser, Washington native. He’s the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Moore’s brother Kirby Moore is the new coach of Washington State Football.
The ballots are sent to more than 12,000 NFF members and hall of famers for voting.
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