Mike Leach’s contract extended to 2024 without reported raise

After a paltry, by recent standards anyway, regular season campaign of 6-6 for the Washington State Cougars, head coach Mike Leach will be around a while longer. The school announced this morning Leach had agreed to exercise the rollover clause in his contract. The contract now runs through 2024.

“Mike Leach has established, and continued, a culture of success at Washington State, both academically and athletically, that few have matched,” said athletic director Pat Chun in a media release. “He has returned WSU to national prominence, is one of the top football coaches in the nation, and we are fortunate to have him leading our program.”

Leach’s contract has been extended after every season at Washington State, making this essentially a five-year rolling deal. Interestingly, for the first time in a number of years, the extension did not include a pay raise. Leach is due to make $4 million for the 2020 season with a $750,000 retention bonus due to him at the end of the year.

The announcement of the rollover comes after both the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ole Miss Rebels were reportedly interested in Leach to fill their head coaching vacancies.

WSU has always had issues keeping talented head coaches around so any time they can do so, that’s a good thing. That goes doubly for ones who have taken their program to a record extending fifth straight bowl game, though where they’ll end up is still in question. The tide of keeping those coaches in Pullman is turning a bit though with recent extensions of volleyball coach Jen Greeny, soccer coach Todd Shulenberger, and track and field coach Wayne Phipps. Add Leach to the pile of current WSU coaches who the school can hopefully keep around.