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Mike Leach’s Hall of Fame eligibility addressed by NFF after Eli Drinkwitz’s comments
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Mike Leach’s College Football Hall of Fame case is more complicated than it appears, according to a new report.
Since Leach’s tragic passing in December 2022, many college football observers have voiced their hopes to see the legendary coach recognized in the Hall.
Many have focused on Leach coming up just short of the required 60% winning percentage. Leach finished with a record of 158-107, a winning percentage of 59.6%. If he had finished one game better (159-106), his winning percentage would be 60%.
Turns out, however, there’s more to why Leach isn’t in the Hall.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz recently brought renewed attention to Leach’s Hall eligibility. Drinkwitz used his opening statement at SEC Media Days to make the case for Leach to be in the Hall. He called on National Football Foundation chair Steve Hatchell to make it happen.
“I hope that Mr. Hatchell will recognize that as CEO he has the ability to utilize his discretion to make the obvious into reality, and that obvious is that the Hall of Fame is incomplete without Coach Mike Leach in it,” Drinkwitz said.
Drinkwitz’s comments have prompted a response from the NFF. FootballScoop’s Zach Barnett, who worked for the NFF from 2010-12, tackled the Leach issue and spoke to Hatchell and NFF Chief Operating Officer Matthew Sign about the calls to induct the late legendary coach.
Barnett points out a common misconception. Regardless of winning percentage, Leach has not been eligible. The current Hall requirements state that a coach must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games, be at least three years removed from the game if under 70, and win at least 60 percent of their games. Leach passed at the age of 61 and coached within the last three years (2022).
The NFF is aware that there have been calls for Leach to be inducted already from those unaware of the policy.
“I get it,” Sign told Barnett. “We don’t have our eyes and ears closed.”
When Leach is three years removed (eligible for 2026), Barnett writes that it remains unlikely that the Pirate is included on the Hall ballot.
However, the circumstances of Leach’s case — heart-breaking as they are — will not change the criteria. The NFF will not create a Beloved active coach died with a .596 winning percentage clause, in other words.
Sign told Barnett that Leach is brought up with other coaches whose winning percentage is under 60%.
Barnett brings up the late Howard Schellenberger. At Miami (1979-83), Schellenberger posted a 41-16 record, winning a national championship. He had a 54-56-2 record at Louisville (1985-94) before going 5-5-1 at Oklahoma in 1995. Schellenberger’s last coaching chapter was establishing the Florida Atlantic program from 2001, FAU’s first season, to 2011.
Going 58-74 at FAU, Schellenberger finished with a career record of 158-151-3. He has a career winning percentage under 60% (51.1%) and is not a member of the Hall.
It remains to be seen if the NFF will adjust the Hall criteria in response to the public debate.
“There’s always the possibility of adjusting it, but it’s not going to be done on a whim and not because of a group of people said it should,” Sign told Barnett. “Any adjustments would be thoroughly researched and discussed.”
“It’ll be a healthy dialogue and I think that’s a good thing for the entire process. This is not anti-Mike Leach,” Sign added. “I want people discussing it and I’m glad they do.”
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
