Texas Tech was a very, very mediocre team during the Spike Dykes era. Leach came in, implemented a very different system and changed up recruiting, and built an excellent program during a time when the Big 12 was dominating football every year. Fans loved him and still wish he was their HC. As they found out, the grass isn't as green now even though they brought in Tuberville and Kingsbury. For being at Texas Tech and not at a recognized football powerhouse or not even at a school that not even was once a powerhouse, I don't see how you can not recognize that it was an excellent coaching job.
He's doing the same thing right now at Washington St and rebuilding their program. He is very similar to Rich Rod in that he built a program up from mediocrity, had some exciting seasons with being ranked toward the top and potentially playing for national titles during the BCS era, and then had a messy outing.
I don't think you know what you are talking about....
Spike Dykes actually won a conference championship unlike Mike Leach.
Truthfully it started with Steve Sloan the famous QB from Alabama who filled in for Joe Namath.
Tech was not an original SWC member and won the conference in 1976....
McWilliams left for UT and Spike Dykes comes in. Dykes was a coach at Midland Lee. This was the time when District 4-5A was known as the Little SWC. The Midland, Odessa and Abilene schools took HS football a lot more serious than a state that took the sport serious.
Dykes recruited the same West Texas players that made Oklahoma under Bud Wilkerson.
Tough hard working players who are born with a sense of pride.
You saw one this year at Oklahoma State with Cornelius.
Leach made Tech with these players....
Without what Spike Dykes built Mike Leach would have been ran off...
He actually struggled early at Washington State but was given the benefit of the doubt.
