Mike Leach gets Washington State contract extension through 2018

Head coach Mike Leach has had his contract extended through the 2018 season, Washington State announced Monday. Terms of the contract extension were not immediately made available.

Now in his second year in Pullman, Leach’s Air Raid system has started to pay off, and after some initial hiccups, he has the Cougars up to respectability in the Pac-12. Washington State ranked 96th in the country in total offense last season with an average of 359.5 yards per game, numbers that are now up to 61st and 417.4, respectively.

The results have shown on the field of play, as well -- the Cougars went 3-9 last season, at one point losing eight in a row. A year later and they are 5-5 with two games to go, with their longest losing streak being only three games.

A win this weekend against Utah or over Washington in next week’s Apple Cup is all that stands between Leach and Washington State’s first bowl berth since 2003.

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