Should Mike Leach coach again?

I’m about as far from the truth involving Mike Leach and Texas Tech football as anyone, but I do know a PR train wreck when I see one and that’s the basis for this post.

Oh, you think he consulted someone for PR guidance before this long-winded, rambling interview with ESPN?

Yeah, right.

I’m sure it went like this:

PR pro: “So, you’re gonna go on ESPN and admit you ordered Adam James to go into a garage or shed for a few hours, a day after a concussion?”

Leach: “No, no, no… I’m gonna say Adam was a lazy player.”

PR pro: “Umm, what exactly does that have to do with…”

Leach: “Then I’m gonna say his dad was the biggest helicopter parent I’ve ever seen, hanging around practice, calling assistant coaches trying to get his kid more playing time…”

PR pro: “What exactly does that have to do with…”

Leach: “Hey, the kid was lazy. His dad is a rich blowhard with the biggest microphone in college football. This isn’t about me.”

PR pro: “You punished a player who had a concussion because he was lazy and you didn’t like his dad bugging you about playing time?”

Leach: “Yeah.”

PR pro: “How long will your interview with ESPN be? Couple minutes?”

Leach: “No, I’m thinking 36 minutes or so. Give them plenty of time to ask me stuff.”

PR pro: “Umm, good luck getting a new job, Mike.”

36 minutes? He starts digging his grave 10 words into it. 36 minutes for an interview to give your side is absurd.

Any coach at any level can learn a lot from Leach. Admit the “punishment” was a mistake and save the player-bashing for the courtroom fight over your contract.

Or, don’t talk to the media at all. You can do that, you know.

No matter who’s got the truth on their side, why bash the kid? (As this ESPN analysis of Leach’s interview by Rob Parker points out).

The next college to hire Leach is gambling that parents of prospective players won’t care that his defense for ordering Adam James into “some place dark,” a garage, shed or closet was that James was a lazy player. Never mind the concussion treatment angle to the story. Never mind the Texas Tech trainer’s take on what Leach said or did.

This is ridiculous.

It’s also worth noting that ESPN interview above came after a bizarre videotaped message from Leach that ESPN posted last week, in which Leach clearly read a statement that someone was likely holding on cue cards awkwardly off to Leach’s right. At least look into the camera. Another bizarre PR move.

And to think, he once had a nice national PR buzz after 60 Minutes gave him his due.

Beyond the PR, I think there’s a coaching 101 lesson here in this James incident too. I’m as far from being a Div. I football coach as you, but don’t you find it odd that he didn’t have a policy to make it clear to parents that he wouldn’t put up with their “meddling” as Leach puts it, by contacting coaches about playing time?

If you don’t crack down on it the first time a parent calls and bugs you, you’re asking for dozens more calls. Do you really want weekly phone calls or emails from 75 parents who all think their kid is going to the NFL? Leach didn’t lay down the law with Craig James, so I don’t see his side in his whining about the “meddling” now, do you?

If my kid is a Div. 1 athlete, I just don’t see the need to talk to the coach about playing time. It’s absurd to even have that kind of persistent, regular, repeated contact with a high school coach.

Let the coach, coach and the players, play. Discuss things when necessary, sure. But meddle?

Also, if a player has an effort and attitude problem, why not just tell him it’s not working out? That, you’re free to go to another school. Why keep him on the team if he’s such a lazy player? Let him go to another college. Let him transfer. Tell him to transfer. Why keep him around?

“I can’t think of anything I’d do differently,” Leach told ESPN.

Funny, that many of James’ teammates have expressed relief that Leach is gone.

No matter what the truth is, that says more than Leach ever could.