Goff: ‘More than just about football’ with late Miss. State coach

Published 4:33 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2022

When Gary Goff first got the job at his alma mater Valdosta State, one of the first guys to call him was his old offensive coordinator.

The McNeese State head coach was a standout receiver for the Blazers and the man who helped run the wide open attack was Mike Leach.

“Coach always kept in contact with me,” said Goff. “He did that with all his guys. It was more than just about football to him.”

The eccentric football coach at Mississippi State died Monday at the age of 61 from heart troubles. 

“It’s a very sad,” Goff said. “He loved Valdosta State. He told me when I got the job that if they had enough money I would have never been the head coach there because he never would have left.

“The whole football world is hurting today.”

Hal Mumme was the head coach at Valdosta at the time and along with Leach was put in the passing game that would later become famous.

“He loved to throw the football, they both did,” said Goff. “They were fun to play for.”

When Goff started his coaching college coaching career it was at Iowa Wesleyan back in  2002. Leach had been the offensive coordinator there from 1989-92. 

That’s where Goff heard the story of how the offense he learned from Leach and Mumme got its name The Air Raid.

“Coach Leach was working as the offensive coordinator and the SID at the time making I heard about $8,000 and said they had to come up with a name for the offense,” Goff said. “So he did and it has stuck all these years.”

Leach has been a major personality in the college football world since. His outspoken and frank way ruffled a few feathers but made him many more friends according to Goff.

“He was genuine, unique,” Goff said. “He had a genuine care for everybody but he was a brutally honest person.

“That’s the way he liked it and that’s the why people loved him. Ask him a question and you were going to get an answer.”

That meant for his ex-players as well. 

“He made sure he always returned someone’s phone call,” said Goff. “That’s how he treated me. 

“You could always call coach but you had better be ready because you were going to be on the phone with him for no less than an hour when you do.”

Goff said he will miss those phone calls but will remember the man behind them.

“He left an impression on me more than football,” Goff said. “He will be missed by a lot of people.”