Leach looking forward to seeing friends, fans at book signing

Four years have passed since college football coach Mike Leach -- who led Texas Tech to 10 consecutive winning seasons and nine consecutive bowl appearances before being fired -- co-authored "Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior." He has worked on no new books.

But Leach will attend a book signing at 6:30 p.m. Mondayat Barnes and Noble Booksellers at South Plains Mall.

He mentions "renewed interest" in his first book, 2011's "Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life," written with Bruce Feldman. In the latter part of that book, the authors document allegations of misconduct by Tech officials and ESPN commentator Craig James, who told then Tech Chancellor Kent Hance that his son, football player Adam James, had a concussion when mistreated by Leach.

Leach said Thursday, "We published everything they had said in their own words. The memos, the depositions, their quotes, their words -- it's all there in the book, and nothing has changed." A Huffington Post review said Leach "meticulously documents plans for his firing that were in the works long before Adam James' treatment became an issue."

Stating that Leach was fired after refusing the university's request that he apologize to Adam James, Hance said before his retirement as chancellor, "He (Leach) would still be coaching today at Tech if he had worked with us. But Mike, I said at the time, in effect just fired himself."

Leach was fired in December 2009 - two days before he was owed approximately $2.4 million as part of his Tech contract. He contends he was fired without proper investigation and without cause, and claims he is owed the contracted amount.

Leach has coached at Washington State University since 2012.

The book signing, said Leach, "actually came about because Lubbock was on my way (from Florida) to the Pac 12 Media Day (next Wednesday) in Los Angeles.

"The biggest reason for stopping in Lubbock is to engage with all my fans there, and meet with old friends. But if Texas Tech were to pay me the 2009 salary I am owed, they could avoid postage by just dropping off a check at Barnes and Noble, with interest."

Leach sees no reason to give up his quest to be paid. "I was in Texas 10 years," he said. "Most Texans I met said their word was their bond."

Tech invoked the "sovereign immunity" granted state institutions as a shield against being sued for payments owed; the Texas Supreme Court in 2012 ruled in Tech's favor.

Leach again pointed out that Texas is the only state that applies sovereign immunity to contracts, adding, "I don't know of any other first world countries do that either. .. It is basically a license to cheat."

In 2017, Wayne Dolcefino, president of a Houston firm hired by Leach, revealed plans to sue Tech for allegedly "withholding records" that would show Leach was fired without cause, among other points.

Tech officials in May termed Dolcefino's lawsuit "baseless."​ 

"But a judge did not say that," Leach countered. "It's befuddling. If baseless, if there is nothing to hide, why block an open records request? What are they? Cuba?"

He added, "In the end, the best thing is for all of us to put this behind us. Then we can celebrate those great years and great players. Tech has not enjoyed a 9-win season since. This is a blemish on Tech, created by people who do not have the best interests of the university at heart. Tech fans don't want this, and I sure don't want a shadow on my best coaching years."

Leach remains a man of interest. ESPN visited him recently in Key West, Florida. "They're also coming to Pullman (Washington) next week," the coach said. "They are filming an E-60 documentary. I'm not sure why, although they seem more interested in my career than just the controversy at Tech."

Eight of Leach's former assistant coaches and five former players have become NCAA head coaches. One is Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Leach said, "He was my first quarterback when I coached at Tech. He is a very tough individual, and I'm always going to be rooting for Kliff."

* Attraction -- College football coach Mike Leach, who led Texas Tech to 10 consecutive winning seasons and nine consecutive bowl appearances before being fired for insubordination, will return for a book-signing appearance.

* When -- 6:30 p.m. Monday. He will stay until each visitor receives a signature.

* Where -- Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 6002 Slide Road at South Plains Mall.

* Books -- Leach will sign copies of his first book, 2011's "Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life," which debuted at No. 6 on the New York Times best seller list. He also will sign copies of his 2014 biography, "Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior." Books are available for purchase at Barnes & Noble, and each fan can bring previously purchased books from home.

* Coaching -- Leach has been been head football coach at Washington State University since 2012.

Leach returns Monday