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Washington State’s Mike Leach one of six finalists for Munger Award

Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach states his case that wide receiver Renard Bell (81) scored a touchdown during the first half of a college football game on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

PULLMAN – Mike Leach joined Alabama’s Nick Saban, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and three other coaches as finalists for the George Munger Award, presented annually to the top coach in college football.

The Washington State coach was named a finalist for the first time since he arrived in Pullman seven years ago. Joining Leach, Kelly and Saban were Syracuse’s Dino Babers, UAB’s Bill Clark and Army’s Jeff Monken.

Picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 North this preseason, the Cougars went 10-2 in the regular season and matched the highest win total in program history. WSU can 11 games for the first time by beating Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 in San Antonio.

The Munger Award winner will be announced on Jan. 3. The honor is voted on by other FBS head coaches and football sports information directors, Maxwell Football Club members and national media members.

Leach, named the Coach of the Year in the Pac-12 Conference last week, has led the Cougars to four consecutive bowl games – a first in school history – and a 36-15 record over the past four seasons after going 9-25 his first three years in charge of the WSU program.

After replacing the Pac-12’s all-time leading passer, Luke Falk, Leach’s Cougars still led the nation in passing offense at 379.8 yards per game behind fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Leach was also tasked with replacing six assistant coaches this offseason, including defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. The Cougars finished No. 39 nationally in scoring offense, at 23 points per game allowed, and No. 30 in total defense, at 346.6 yards per game allowed. WSU led the Pac-12 and tied for 15th in the FBS with 2.92 sacks per game.