Leach is 47-39 at WSU. Was 3-9 in his 3rd season there. Let’s stop acting as if he’s god’s gift to Football.
Year W L
2018 8 1 Leach 45th nationally in recruiting, 9th in Pac-12
2017 9 4 Leach 44th nationally in recruiting, 9th in Pac-12
2016 8 5 Leach 56th nationally in recruiting, 10th in Pac-12
2015 9 4 Leach 42nd nationally in recruiting, 8th in Pac-12
2014 3 9 Leach 53rd nationally in recruiting, 8th in Pac-12
2013 6 7 Leach 50th nationally in recruiting, 8th in Pac-12
2012 3 9 Leach 58th nationally in recruiting, 10th in Pac-12
2011 4 8 68th nationally in recruiting, 12th in Pac-12
2010 2 10 65th nationally in recruiting, 12th in Pac-12
2009 1 11 63rd nationally in recruiting, 11th in Pac-12
2008 2 11 66th nationally in recruiting, 12th in Pac-12
2007 5 7 57th nationally in recruiting, 9th in Pac-12
2006 6 6 45th nationally in recruiting, 7th in Pac-12
2005 4 7 43rd nationally in recruiting, 9th in Pac- 12
2004 5 6 22nd nationally in recruiting, 4th in Pac-12
Leach averages 38 ppg, ranking 18th in total offense, in a nothing town with 1 and 2 stars.
Leach has WSU winning on a consistent basis, which is rare for WSU, which I truly believe has generated better classes of predominantly 3 star kids.
That 2004 class had 10 recruits at the 2 star level in it. Also, a little bit of luck in landing Bumpus late, because he was all set as a 4 star to head to USC and he got hosed when the Trojans landed Jarrett in the 12th hour and Bumpus was ousted. Estes was in that set, a legendary 4 star bust, and Roof was a 4 star OL (somehow). But the number of 2 stars was the reason that class didn’t work out. I think the past several WSU recruiting classes have actually been better than 2004. That class averaged a 2.94, I think it was…star rating…thanks mostly to the 4 star guys in the set.
But depth and caliber of player has been more consistent lately in Leach's classes. The 2014 set had one 2 star. The 2015 set had three 2 stars. The 2016 set had 5 under 3 stars, I believe... The 2017 set had three guys who were 2 star. The type of players coming in - their ability to contribute immediately - is a testament to Leach's recruiting and coaching ability. He took teams with 1 and 2 star athletes and yielded enough positive results to where now his roster is mostly comprised of 3 star athletes. I know, being a UM fan, 3 star rosters don't make your heart flutter. But I'm telling you, this is a new thing for WSU.
The 2018 set had all 3 star and 4 star kids…that is a first I believe, in WSU recruiting history. No recruit rated under 3 stars. Stacking 3 star and above talent into the program like chord wood is a very new thing for the program. This thing is building… WSU doesn't appear to be the ‘hey we have a good set of seniors, we might bowl’ program now as they have been in the past. This is the part of Leach's tenure that I feel doesn’t get enough attention…
So yeah… He has warts…gruff with the media, reluctant to dole out information in the ‘information-gotta know it right away era’. But one sprained ankle no longer decimates the o-line, d-line, or secondary. He has enough depth now to where he has his team sitting alone atop the Pac-12 North, over Oregon, Stanford, and Washington. That's impressive as **** to me.