Mike Leach was leaving Washington State until he wasn't. Now, things could get awkward.

The last 36 hours or so for Mike Leach and the Washington State Cougars have been wild.

On Thursday night, it was reported that Leach met with Tennessee Athletic Director John Currie and agreed to become the next head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers and that it could be announced Friday. It was also reported that the Cougs would promote Alex Grinch from defensive coordinator to head coach and that Leach had grown frustrated with the pace of WSU's AD search. Leach was also offered an extension and a raise:

But those plans went out the window once it was announced that Currie had been fired by the time the west coast sat down for breakfast.

So right now, Leach is still the head coach at Washington State and Tennessee....well who the heck knows what the Volunteers are going to do with Philip Fulmer supposedly in charge.

But for the Cougs, things could still get interesting, because Leach is clearly willing to leave and intended to do so until Tennessee continued to be Tennessee.

Leach may have legitimate beefs with WSU or it could be Leach's ego rearing its head. Either way, things could be awkward in the Football Operations Building and throughout the athletic department as we approach the team's bowl announcement.

There are some that pondered whether the Currie-Leach meeting was actually Leach interviewing Currie. After all, Currie was the AD at Kansas State when Kirk Schulz was president there. But that theory goes out the window if Leach had agreed to be the Tennessee head coach.

Who knows what will happen. There's always the Arkansas factor, as well as some other jobs that will inevitably come open as the coaching carousel continues to rotate.

Strap in Coug fans, because who knows what's next.

Links

Leach

The Mike Leach-to-Tennessee rumor tracker - SBNation.com
The pirate might be headed to the south.

Tennessee AD John Currie suspended one day after meeting with WSU’s Mike Leach; UT chancellor declines questions about coaching vacancy | The Spokesman-Review
The Tennessee AD was prepared to hire Leach to become the Volunteers’ coach, according to one report, but “university officials wouldn’t allow him to.”

Mike Leach to Tennessee rumors: A complete and updating timeline | The Seattle Times
Tennessee's coaching search has been one of the wildest in recent memory. It's not over yet, and WSU coach Mike Leach has been at the center of it.

Analysis | How does Tennessee’s suspension of John Currie affect Mike Leach and WSU’s athletic-director search? | The Seattle Times
John Currie was hired by WSU President Kirk Schulz when he was at Kansas State, and they have a long-standing relationship. WSU is still looking for an athletic director. Does one thing lead to the other?

Grip on Sports: It doesn't look as if Mike Leach is going to Tennessee but there still will be changes at WSU | The Spokesman-Review
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Times are changing in Pullman. That is true whether or not Mike Leach decides to put Tennessee out of its misery. Read on.

Volleyball

For the second straight season, your Washington State volleyball team is headed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Cougs beat the Florida State Seminoles in Lincoln, Neb. 3-1. The Cougs play fifth-seeded Nebraska tonight at 5 p.m. PST. You know, Nebraska: the school with that one athletic director that we used to have.

WSU Volleyball Captures NCAA First Round Victory| Washington State University Athletics
WSU beats Florida State three sets to one.

Women's Basketball

Brown's Double-Double Leads The Cougs Over Idaho State, 72-55 | Washington State University Athletics
Cougs pull away in the fourth quarter for the win.