WSU Athletics includes late Mike Leach in ’24 HOF class

WSU Athletics announced its five-person 2024 Hall of Fame class Thursday — a group that will include the late Mike Leach.

WSU will recognize Alissa Brooks-Johnson (women’s track and field, 2013–18), Micaela Castain (soccer, 2010–13), Don Collins (men’s basketball, 1976–80), DeWayne Patterson (football, 1990–94) and Leach.

The 2024 class will be inducted at a Sept. 6 dinner at Beasley Coliseum and recognized the following day at the Washington State vs. Texas Tech football game at Gesa Field.

Mike Leach, football

Leach began his head football coaching career at Texas Tech.

He served as WSU coach for eight seasons (2012–2019), leading the Cougs to 55 wins (the third most among any football coach in program history) and six bowl games (the most in WSU history).

He died from complications from a heart condition Dec. 12, 2022, as he was preparing to lead the Mississippi State Bulldogs to their bowl game.

Leach was a two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and the 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year following the Cougars’ program-best 11-win 2018 season. His iconic Air Raid offense inspired a slew of high school, college and even NFL teams.

Known as “The Pirate,” Leach shared his personality openly with fans and the media, going viral for numerous tangents including giving a reporter wedding advice, criticizing the four-team College Football Playoff and dictating which Pac-12 mascot would win in a fight.

His interest in pirates, and a “Swing Your Sword” approach to life, landed him and his Pirate-decorated office on the show “60 Minutes” while at Texas Tech.

Leach recruited and guided many Cougars who went on to the NFL, including guys like quarterback Gardner Minshew, offensive lineman Andre Dillard and, most recently, defensive linemen Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson.

Alissa Brooks-Johnson, track and field

Brooks-Johnson was one of the most prolific runners in WSU history as a two-time first-team All-American (2017, 2018) and a three-time Pac-12 champion in the heptathlon, finishing second as a freshman. She ranks on WSU’s top-10 lists in four different events, including second in heptathlon and fifth in the 400 hurdles.

Micaela Castain, women’s soccer

Castain is the only Coug to earn Pac-12 Player of the Year in program history when she accounted for 11 goals and 11 assists in her 2013 senior season. The two-time All-Pac-12 player started 71-of-74 matches and finished third all-time in WSU history with 33 goals and 80 points, and sixth with 14 assists. She led the Cougs to the NCAA tournament three times.

Don Collins, men’s basketball

Collins left WSU second in career scoring in 1980. He set the Pac-10 single-season scoring record with 442 points and is the only Coug in program history to earn conference MVP honors.

Following his MVP season, he was named an All-American by three separate organizations.

He spent parts of seven seasons in the NBA following his time on the Palouse. He also played in the CBA, where he was named to the 50th anniversary team.

DeWayne Patterson, football

Patterson led the iconic Palouse Posse defense in the early 1990s. In four seasons at WSU, he racked up 154 tackles, and WSU records of 52.5 tackles-for-loss and 37.5 sacks, both of which remain school records 30 years later. Following his senior year, he was named to the Football News All-America first team and Associated Press All-America second team. The two-time All-Pac-10 Conference first team selection played three seasons in the Canadian Football League.

The WSU Athletics Hall of Fame was formed in 1978 by then-WSU President Glenn Terrell and WSU athletic director Sam Jankovich. It includes 232 individual Cougs.

WSU is selling tickets to the Hall of Fame dinner on its website.