Washington State Cougars

Washington State coach Mike Leach on the hot seat?

Published Jul. 22, 2015 4:02 p.m. ET

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After just a couple of seasons in Pullman, could it be time to pull the plug on the Mike Leach era at Washington State? It seems implausible, especially given the success he found with the team in 2013, but weirder things have happened.

ESPN's Ted Miller explains why Leach's seat could be a little bit warm at WSU. Miller gave Leach's hot-seat rating a three out of five, by far the highest number in the Pac-12 North. Below are Miller's comments:

"After leading Washington State to a bowl game in 2013 -- we won't mention how that bowl game went -- expectations were fairly high in 2014. So a 3-9 finish, which included losses in six of the final seven games, was a major disappointment, no matter the injury issues. The initial euphoria over Leach's hiring in 2012 has dissipated. After the season, Leach fired defensive coordinator Mike Breske and brought in Alex Grinch, a first-time coordinator. With seven starters back on each side of the ball, and a QB in Luke Falk who mostly performed well when Connor Halliday got hurt, there is reason to believe the Cougs can get back to a bowl game. If that doesn't happen, there figures to be some grumbling in Pullman."

The Cougars figure to compete for the third spot in the Pac-12 North along with the Cal Bears and Washington Huskies. However, if the Cougars stumble once again, it could be Leach's final season in Pullman.

(h/t ESPN)

Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo 

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