Mike Leach, wide receivers coach at the University of Kentucky, has been named NCAA Division II Offensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Quarterly Magazine.
Leach was honored for his work during the 1996 season at Valdosta State University. The Blazer offense averaged 38.8 points and 484.4 yards of total offense per game.
“I’m proud to get the award. A lot of schools play Division II football, so I was kind of overwhelmed when I heard about it,” Leach said. “Individual honors are just a manifestation of what the team accomplished. We had great people and great players at Valdosta. It was a whole team effort.”
During the 1996 season, Valdosta State posted a 10-3 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. It was a school-record fifth consecutive winning season for VSU.
Leach was the offensive coordinator for five years under Coach Hal Mumme at VSU. VSU posted a 40-17-1 record during those five seasons. The Blazers advanced to the Division II playoffs in 1994 and 1996, the only playoff appearances in school history. VSU set numerous school, conference, and national offensive records during Leach’s tenure.
With the help of VSU’s dynamic offense, quarterback Chris Hatcher (now a UK graduate assistant coach) won the 1994 Harlon Hill Award, which is given to the national player of the year in Division II. Another VSU quarterback, Lance Funderburk, was runner-up for the 1996 Harlon Hill Award. Seventeen offensive players were named first-team All-Gulf South Conference during Leach’s five years as offensive coordinator.
Leach also teamed with Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan from 1989- 91. IWC led the NAIA in passing yardage in 1990 and finished second the other two seasons. The IWC offense passed for more than 11,000 yards and broke 26 national records. IWC quarterback Dustin Dewald and VSU QB Chris Hatcher are two of only seven quarterbacks in collegiate history to pass for more than 100 touchdowns.
The highly intelligent Leach graduated with honors from Brigham Young University. He holds a master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy and has a law degree after graduating in the top one-third of his class at Pepperdine.
