The Illinois football team and fans mourn the loss of Mike Leach

Mike Leach passed away at age 61 due to heart complications. 

Within the last several hours, Mississippi State PR confirmed that Mike Leach, a 21-year coaching veteran and head coach at Mississippi State, died Tuesday morning because of heart complications. He was 61.

Leach was hired three years ago and helped guide the Bulldogs to seven and eight-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The Bulldogs (8-4) are scheduled to take on the Illini (8-4) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 2 and with the game looming, the Illini fateful sent their condolences in a press release on Tuesday.

"“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike Leach’s family,” Bret Bielema said in a statement. “Today is a sad day for college football. We lost a great coach, a great person, and one of the legendary personalities in our sport.”"

Bret Bielema revealed a personal connection with the coaching legend.

"“Mike and I built a long friendship after first meeting at the Alamo Bowl in the early 2000s,” Bielema continued. “We shared so many memories over the years. RIP, Mike.”"

Athletic director Josh Whitman also shared a few words regarding the passing of Coach Leach.

Other members of the Illinois football team, staff, media, and fans expressed their heartbreak at the news of Coach Leach’s passing.

Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema is an ex-SEC head coach

Bielema is all too familiar with the SEC, having coached for Arkansas from 2013 to 2017. Although he and Leach never crossed paths on opposite sidelines while with the Razorbacks, the connection remained heartfelt.

Both teams will now have a lot to play for, as the news has become bigger than football. Although there is a football game to be played, it might just be what Coach Leach would have wished for.

May he rest in peace.