x
Breaking News
More () »

'Sword Swung': Mike Leach honored on Des Moines billboard

Mike Leach died Tuesday at the age of 61. A "Sword Swung" billboard honoring the coach can be seen in downtown Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Local 5 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Download the apps today to stream live newscasts and watch video on demand. 

As tributes pour in for Mike Leach, the legendary college football coach who died Tuesday at the age of 61, a sign in central Iowa is embracing one of his most well-known mantras.

A billboard spotted in downtown Des Moines reads simply, "Sword Swung," a reference to Leach's book titled "Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life."

The billboard — which is part of a nationwide PSA campaign from Lamar Advertising — is located near 15th Street and Ingersoll Avenue south of Hoyt Sherman Place.

Identical billboards have been put up in the Mississippi cities of Meridian and Gulfport.

"Incredible gesture by our friends at [Lamar Advertising] today to honor Coach Leach - they took it upon themselves to run a nationwide billboard campaign. He left a legacy," Rhett Hobart, an athletics department administrator at Mississippi State University, wrote on Twitter.

Leach fell ill on Sunday before being treated at a local hospital in Mississippi. He died following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said.

During 21 years as a head coach at Mississippi State, Washington State and Texas Tech, Leach compiled a 158-107 record with eight bowl game wins.

Leach had a short stint as an assistant coach at Iowa Wesleyan University, serving as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991.

"When thinking about Iowa Wesleyan Tiger Football, one would be remiss not to mention Coach Mike Leach," the school said in a statement after his passing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

► Download the We Are Iowa app
► Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter
 Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube

   

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out