Texas high court denies appeal in Mike Leach firing lawsuit

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Supreme Court has denied former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach’s appeal in a lawsuit over his firing.

Texas Tech dismissed Leach in 2009 amid accusations he mistreated a player suffering a concussion. That player was the son of Craig James, a former SMU star and ex-broadcaster with ESPN.

Leach sued James, ESPN and public relations firm Spaeth Communications, alleging libel and slander. A Texas judge in 2013 granted summary judgment in favor of James, ESPN and Spaeth. A case against Texas Tech previously was dismissed.

In November, the 7th Texas Court of Appeals upheld the lower court ruling, and the Supreme Court’s denial, issued May 1, upholds those decisions.

“We knew the odds are against us,” Leach’s attorney, Michael Hurst, told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Friday.

“But it was certainly worth it for Mr. Leach to take a shot given what the defendants did. The message here is that they can seemingly do what they want to do with impunity.”

He said he’ll meet with Leach, now entering his fourth season as football coach at Washington State, to discuss any possible new legal responses.