BREAKING: Mississippi State names Mike Leach as program’s 34th head coach.

Coaching searches always live up to the hype. From message board candidates to flight tracking, silly season never disappoints. Thankfully for Mississippi State, we are no longer searching.

John Cohen made it abundantly clear what he was looking for in his next head coach, and he found it in Mike Leach. The hiring of Mike Leach brings instant offense as well as excitement to Mississippi State football. Mike Leach has been successful at two different stops at the college level. In 18 years as a head coach, Mike Leach has compiled a record of 139-90. He is most notably one of the father’s of the air raid offense and one of the nation’s most intriguing press conferences. He also has quite the twitter account:

Mike Leach is recognized as one of the great minds in all of football. Both of Leach’s stops were at programs who had struggled for most of it’s history. He revived both programs, taking them to new heights. He has multiple Cotton Bowl appearances and two 11-win seasons. Only twice in his head coaching career has ever failed to make a bowl game.

With a strong defensive staff, this hire becomes one of the top coaching staffs in the SEC. In order to adopt his scheme, this is going to take patience, but it will pay off in the long run.

It is also a major win for Mississippi State marketing, who will be able to have a field day with this hire. Times are changing in Starkville and this is most definitely the proof of it. Going after a highly respected, well-paid Power Five coach shows that John Cohen understood the importance of this hire. For what seems like a lot riding on this hire, let’s hope that John Cohen gets it right. For now, the Mike Leach ship is sailing and it will dock in Starkville.