The National Football Foundation is dropping its coach win percentage threshold from .600 to .595 in a move that will allow former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach entry into the College Football Hall of Fame. The rule change wasn’t directly attributed to Leach, but he was one win short of qualifying under the previous threshold. 

Leach was 158-107 in his 21-year career as a college head coach. His winning percentage of .596 when he passed away in December of 2022 didn’t qualify him for the Hall of Fame previously. The NFF heard the outrage and made the adjustment. Leach first became a head coach at Texas Tech in 2000. He left in 2009 and then took over Washington State in 2012 and Mississippi State in 2020. His last season was 2022.

Leach posted a winning record at each of his three stops and helped revolutionize offensive football with the Air Raid offense he popularized alongside mentor Hal Mumme. Leach won 66.1 percent of his games as the head coach of the Red Raiders, finishing with 158 wins and nine bowl trips in 10 seasons. He was 55-47 at Washington State and 19-17 at Mississippi State.