Swing Your Sword

Mike Leach (1961–2022) was a groundbreaking and innovative football coach known for his revolutionary "Air Raid" offense, which redefined college football strategy. Over his 21-year head coaching career at Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State, Leach became one of the most respected and colorful personalities in sports, earning numerous Coach of the Year awards and leaving a lasting legacy on the game.Beyond football, Leach was a polymath with a law degree from Pepperdine University, an interest in history, and an affinity for pirates, which inspired much of his unique leadership philosophy. In Swing Your Sword, he offers an unfiltered look at his unconventional journey, from coaching obscurity to becoming one of the most innovative minds in football. The book is as insightful, entertaining, and bold as the man himself.

I could tell that our players liked him right away. What really struck me was how sure of himself of what he wanted to do. He had such conviction and confidence in his way of doing it and there wasn't any second guessing it: "This is what we're going to do. It is going to work. It has worked everywhere we've been." I remember feeling great. This is exactly what we needed to do.