His father Frank was a forester and the family moved around several times while Leach was growing up, before finally settling in Cody, Wyoming.

[1] After one year at Oklahoma, Leach was hired as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, another Big 12 member.

However, he showed steady improvement beginning with the game against Iowa State and ended the season with a record-setting comeback victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Later in the season, Texas Tech beat Nebraska, 70–10, forcing the Cornhuskers to give up more points in a single game than they had before in their 114-year history.

[19] In February 2009, Leach signed a three-year contract extension with Texas Tech that would have paid him at least $2.5 million per year if he had stayed through 2013.

[20] During his post-game press conference after the 2007 loss against Texas, Leach used most of his time to rail against the officiating crew for what he felt were bad calls.

[23][24] Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press wrote, "Leach was upset officials disallowed two Tech touchdowns in the third quarter.

"[24][25] The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported, "Big 12 policy prohibits coaches from commenting publicly about game officials, so Leach's actions leave him open to reprimand, fine or worse.

"[22] ESPN reported, "Big 12 official spokesman Bob Burda did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment.

[30] Tech alumni and fans began raising money to aid Leach in paying the penalty in the event that it was upheld.

[32] Following the 2008 Gator Bowl, in which Virginia scored twice on penalties against Tech for intentional grounding in the end zone, Leach joked, "I felt like we had a back there on the one safety, but I don't comment on officiating.

"[33] Leach, along with players Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, were featured on the cover of the 2008 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

[37] He won co-Coach of the Year honors from the Big 12 coaches; Oklahoma's Bob Stoops received the same recognition for the same season.

[39] He garnered the 2008 George Munger Award, which is given annually to the top college coach of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.

[41] Oklahoma won the tie-breaker on account of their higher BCS ranking, ultimately losing to Florida in the national championship game.

[49] In an interview with the Associated Press, Tech quarterback Graham Harrell stated that there was a "great chance" Leach could leave.

[53] On October 31, 2009, after the Red Raiders' win over Kansas, Leach tied his predecessor Spike Dykes as the all-time winningest coach in Texas Tech's 85-year football history.

His attorney, Ted Liggett, disputed the characterization of events as reported by the university and other news sources, and said that James had been treated reasonably in light of his condition.

However, on December 30, Texas Tech fired Leach, calling his refusal to apologize to James "a defiant act of insubordination."

[57] Texas Tech lawyers handed a termination letter to Liggett just minutes before the two sides were to appear in a Lubbock courtroom for a hearing.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was named interim head coach and led the team during their appearance in the Alamo Bowl.

He claimed the controversy stemmed from Craig James's constant lobbying for more playing time for his son, whom he characterized as lazy and feeling entitled.

[61] During a deposition for the case obtained by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Adam James admitted under oath that he found the closet incident "funny".

[68] On August 6, Judge Sowder issued a summary judgement dismissing Leach's lawsuits against ESPN, Spaeth Communications, and Craig James.

[69] In August 2010, Leach joined CBS College Sports Network, where he worked as a color analyst with play-by-play announcer Roger Twibell.

Down by sixteen points with under three minutes to play, the Rams mounted an all-time great comeback, winning with a field goal as time expired in regulation.

[83] In 2015, despite a season-opening loss to FCS school Portland State, the Cougars had their breakthrough season of the Leach era with a 9–4 record, 6–3 in the Pac-12.

The success of their season, led by Luke Falk at quarterback, landed them in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego where they lost 17–12 to Minnesota of the Big Ten.

[87] They also surged as high as seventh in major polling and went into the Apple Cup with a chance to clinch the Pac-12 North title and a shot at the Rose Bowl, but lost 28–15 to rival Washington in the snow in Pullman, a sixth consecutive loss to the Huskies.

In the show's fourth season, he portrayed a "random loon" at a gas station who implores a despondent coach Eric Taylor to "swing your sword" and "find your inner pirate.