SWING YOUR SWORD is the first ever book by one of the most fascinating and successful coaches in sports today. A maverick who took an unlikely path to coaching through law school, Mike Leach talks about his unorthodox approach to coaching and the choices that have brought him success throughout his career. A lover of the game who started creating formations and drawing his own plays as a kid, Leach took his Texas Tech Red Raiders to numerous bowl games, achieving the #2 slot in national rankings and being voted 2008 Coach of the Year before being unceremoniously fired at the end of the 2009 season. The scandalous nature of his dismissal created a media frenzy and began a personal battle between Leach and his accusers that remains unresolved.
Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life
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Editorial Reviews
Review
I think he’s brilliant. Mike Leach is a renaissance man through and through. The commercials about the World’s Most Interesting Man—that’s Mike Leach. I love him so much. I aspire to live a full and rich life and he’s doing it. He’s as interested in literature as he is in football. He’s just a very complicated, well-rounded individual. He’s a real maverick and an inspiration.
-Peter Berg, filmmaker, director - Friday Night Lights
I could tell that our players liked him right away. What really struck me was how sure of himself of what he wanted to do. He had such conviction and confidence in his way of doing it and there wasn't any second guessing it: "This is what we're going to do. It is going to work. It has worked everywhere we've been." I remember feeling great. This is exactly what we needed to do.
-Bob Stoops, Mike’s former boss at Oklahoma
He’s one of the most unique people I’ve ever met. He’s infinitely curious about everything. He doesn’t come in there and meet new situations with an agenda. He likes to walk straight up and ask the tough questions. He loves it when someone is real as can be. He wants to learn something new. He wants to hear another point of view on something. Mike Leach is an infinitely interesting guy. His free association is epic. Nobody has the ability to free associate like this guy. He starts going and you’re thinking, ‘O.K., where are you going with this?’ I love his re-set. His re-set line is always, ‘well, the thing is.’ Whenever he switches gears to another subject, that his comma, it’s ‘Well, the thing is. . . ‘
-Matthew McConaughey
Mike Leach has proved he can write a book that's as good as his passing schemes. I might add that it also ranks up there with his leadership and communication skills. Don't miss this eye-opening entertainment.
-Dan Jenkins
“Mike Leach is a great leader and an amazing motivator of men. And he got screwed. He’s got fantastic ingenuity, not only on the football field, but what he did with Texas Tech. The guy was on the cover of the New York Times Sunday Magazine as the head coach of Texas Tech. Think about how unusual that is. He is just so smart and really is a great guy, and a great coach.”
-Donald Trump
Praise for Bruce Feldman:
Meat Market
"One of the most insightful books ever written about college football."
-The New York Times
-Peter Berg, filmmaker, director - Friday Night Lights
I could tell that our players liked him right away. What really struck me was how sure of himself of what he wanted to do. He had such conviction and confidence in his way of doing it and there wasn't any second guessing it: "This is what we're going to do. It is going to work. It has worked everywhere we've been." I remember feeling great. This is exactly what we needed to do.
-Bob Stoops, Mike’s former boss at Oklahoma
He’s one of the most unique people I’ve ever met. He’s infinitely curious about everything. He doesn’t come in there and meet new situations with an agenda. He likes to walk straight up and ask the tough questions. He loves it when someone is real as can be. He wants to learn something new. He wants to hear another point of view on something. Mike Leach is an infinitely interesting guy. His free association is epic. Nobody has the ability to free associate like this guy. He starts going and you’re thinking, ‘O.K., where are you going with this?’ I love his re-set. His re-set line is always, ‘well, the thing is.’ Whenever he switches gears to another subject, that his comma, it’s ‘Well, the thing is. . . ‘
-Matthew McConaughey
Mike Leach has proved he can write a book that's as good as his passing schemes. I might add that it also ranks up there with his leadership and communication skills. Don't miss this eye-opening entertainment.
-Dan Jenkins
“Mike Leach is a great leader and an amazing motivator of men. And he got screwed. He’s got fantastic ingenuity, not only on the football field, but what he did with Texas Tech. The guy was on the cover of the New York Times Sunday Magazine as the head coach of Texas Tech. Think about how unusual that is. He is just so smart and really is a great guy, and a great coach.”
-Donald Trump
Praise for Bruce Feldman:
Meat Market
"One of the most insightful books ever written about college football."
-The New York Times
About the Author
After stints at Kentucky and Oklahoma, Mike Leach took over a subpar Texas Tech program that had one of the worst graduation rates in all of major college football. A decade later, Leach had guided Tech to unprecedented on-field success and the highest graduation rate of any public university in major college football. He is now a TV analyst for CBS College Sports and hosts the daily College Football Playbook show on SiriusXM. He is native of Cody, Wyoming, and graduated from Brigham Young University. He earned his J.D. from Pepperdine Law School in 1986. Leach and his wife, Sharon, have four children.
Bruce Feldman is a writer for ESPN. He has written two books, Meat Market: Inside the Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting and Cane Mutiny. His work also has appeared in three editions of the Best American Sports Writing series. He has worked for ESPN since 1994.
Michael Lewis is the author of bestsellers The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Liar's Poker, The New New Thing, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, Panic and Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood.
Bruce Feldman is a writer for ESPN. He has written two books, Meat Market: Inside the Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting and Cane Mutiny. His work also has appeared in three editions of the Best American Sports Writing series. He has worked for ESPN since 1994.
Michael Lewis is the author of bestsellers The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Liar's Poker, The New New Thing, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, Panic and Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
107 of 114 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a Tech fan and former student, I was interested in finally hearing Leach's side of the story. This book turned out to be so much more. I'm so glad that this is more of an autobiography, and that we learned more from Mike Leach's own pen about his life and his history. I agree completely with Donald Trump... Mike Leach was screwed... and the good 'ol boy network in Lubbock will continue to assassinate his character, lie about his actions, etc. in order to legitimize their screwing of Mike Leach. But in the end, Leach has won. He kept his honor, his principles, and his sense of humor about the whole thing. The scumbags in the bell tower have to live with themselves, and that can't be easy. Great book Mike, and I'm glad I actually purchased it and read it.
59 of 63 people found the following review helpful
By jusu2112
Format:Hardcover
I had not planned to write this review until I saw the poor one. That person actually didn't review the book but only had criticisms for Mike Leach. His "facts" about Coach Leach were inaccurate which makes me very suspicious of the review and reviewer. For one he was the best coach that Tech ever had, past and present and it is fully documented about his winning record as coach at Tech. Also the graduation rate for football players at Tech jumped during his tenure. Secondly, Leach and Tech had signed an employment agreement that Tech broke and Tech is currently trying to hide behind loopholes in Texas law as they were hiding behind Craig James. Craig James had caused problems for players and coaches at SMU in the 1980s which lasted through the 90s whereas SMU is still trying to rebuild their football program and now he's made it a family business by spreading problems to Tech. ESPN should be ashamed to have James on their payroll. If they actually cared about the sport and their own ethics he would have been gone. Craig James' commentary on ESPN is worthless. I am glad Mike Leach has written this book for everyone to understand what actually took place at Tech. I was not even a Tech or Leach fan but can understand what employers try to do to get out of paying their employees even when they are contractually required to do so. I hope Mike Leach the very best in his future endeavors and I hope things come back around for Craig James and family.
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By PaperBookFan
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Forget how Texas Tech brass handled Leach (laughable, but for serious...and possibly illegal...consequences). This book answers a lot of questions about the man and his methods...which, it turns out, aren't really mad at all. Can't imagine any coach of any sport at any level not benefiting from Leach's book...but it's also a think piece for lawyers, commentators and any underdog who's ever wondered "Why not me?". The lawyer turned coach turned author is most likely to succeed if he ever coaches again. If not, his innate curiosity, honesty and independence ensure he'll make the most of whatever he's doing. Leach won't be bored or bowed, and you can't put a price on that.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A-H
Format:Hardcover
From the first chapter, Leach had me cracking up. This book is more of an autobiography, and we get great insight into what made Leach the outgoing personality that he is today. The details about the Texas Tech-Adam James situation are there at the end, and while it is shocking how different the story is from what was put forward by the media at the time, this book is much more than that. Leach's story is a great one to read, his philosophy on coaching and life in general make this book absolutely worthwhile.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By reille
Format:Hardcover
You can be sure that the Spaeth PR firm wil be flooding these reviews with negative comments about the book. One of the early tip offs will be references to Leach telling his superiors at TT to f... off. This is the Spaeth signature talking point so far. btw ESPN idefintiely suspended Bruce Feldman for assisting Leach with the book, supposedly after giving him permission to work on it.
This book is Leach's side of the story and is supported by emails and other documentation. If the supporting docs aren't legit TT Craig James and Spaeth need to offer up proof rather than conduct a anti Leach anti Feldman PR campaign.
This book is Leach's side of the story and is supported by emails and other documentation. If the supporting docs aren't legit TT Craig James and Spaeth need to offer up proof rather than conduct a anti Leach anti Feldman PR campaign.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By P. Stroud
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I admit that I am biased and that my husband and I are '67 graduates of Texas Tech. I also admit that we were at the BIG game between Tech and Texas that we won, and I'm STILL having trouble believing it!!! AND I admit being totally upset over what happened to Coach Leach and that I will not EVER forgive Texas Tech for their lies and defamatory actions towards Coach Leach!
That aside, I couldn't wait to get the book, and I haven't been disappointed in the least. I had trouble putting it down just to fix dinner or basically just going to bed!!! What a read!!! I already knew so much about Mike Leach and I understood the kind of person he was, but the book added so much more for my understanding of just what a GREAT man/coach/father/husband he is!!! Mike is a very principled person, a rare thing that we see around today. He has been a GREAT role model to the boys on his teams at various schools/programs. He has a VERY strong work ethic and expects the same from his kids. I identify with Mike being a retired teacher. The kids learn so much more from someone who holds their standards high!!! Mike proved that with his graduation rate being the best in the country for a public institution. After all, the education is what the boys are there for!!!
Be prepared when reading the book that you will have to have the time to actually sit and read and not be disturbed! When you get halfway through the book, forget about putting it down! It is a smooth easy read, one that you will enjoy! At the end of the book, you will feel honored having gotten to know and understand a great human being!!! Swing your swords, mates!!!!
That aside, I couldn't wait to get the book, and I haven't been disappointed in the least. I had trouble putting it down just to fix dinner or basically just going to bed!!! What a read!!! I already knew so much about Mike Leach and I understood the kind of person he was, but the book added so much more for my understanding of just what a GREAT man/coach/father/husband he is!!! Mike is a very principled person, a rare thing that we see around today. He has been a GREAT role model to the boys on his teams at various schools/programs. He has a VERY strong work ethic and expects the same from his kids. I identify with Mike being a retired teacher. The kids learn so much more from someone who holds their standards high!!! Mike proved that with his graduation rate being the best in the country for a public institution. After all, the education is what the boys are there for!!!
Be prepared when reading the book that you will have to have the time to actually sit and read and not be disturbed! When you get halfway through the book, forget about putting it down! It is a smooth easy read, one that you will enjoy! At the end of the book, you will feel honored having gotten to know and understand a great human being!!! Swing your swords, mates!!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book from an ill-represented man
Mike has an understanding of football that I believe evades most people, let alone football coaches. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lessons learned.
I am not a coach; I am not a man but I learned several lessons from this book. It is very enjoyable reading.
Published 1 month ago by Sarah B. Schreiner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real Insight
Loved the book for the insight it provided on the coach. If anyone wants to understand anything they have read about Coach Leach needs to read this book.
Published 1 month ago by Cotton Lawler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Texas Tech Football
I went to Tech in the days of JT King and it was great to see Mike Leach WIN for a change. The book was a great read and of course most of the fans heated to see Tech let him go.
Published 2 months ago by George A. Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mike Leach is awesome
This book is great. Easy read great stories and pulls no punches. Would recommend this book for anybody to read.
Published 2 months ago by William Peters
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mike Leach- difference maker
Mike Leach has an amazing story. Anybody who would per on the dog bullying them is different. Mike is a different animal. He will get wazzou on the college football map.
Published 2 months ago by Ty Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Football Read
Brings you into the life of one of the greatest football minds of all time! Recommend to anyone who loves football.
Published 2 months ago by Chris Zablocki
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid book
Good easy read. Lots of info on him getting fired. I was hoping for more insight into his offense, but it was still enjoyable.
Published 3 months ago by Jonathan Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Air Raid
This book was a great read. I have been a fan of Mike Leach since his Air Raid days at Kentucky. He is one of the top offensive minds in the game of football. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Michael A. Baldwin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, fun read
Before reading this book, I knew very little about Mike Leach. I am not a Texas Tech fan. I am a football coach. The book was recommended by a fellow coach. It was hilarious. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Matt
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