Mike Leach will be back on the sideline next season. Washington State reached a verbal agreement with the former Texas Tech coach one day after firing Paul Wulff.
The school said Wednesday that Leach had agreed in principle to a five-year contract and will be introduced at a press conference next Tuesday.
Financial terms of the contract were not available, but according to a story by CBSSports.com, the deal is for five years and would make Leach the third-highest paid coach in the Pac-12.In a statement released through the school, Leach said: "I have always admired the tradition of Washington State. It's a university on the move that is experiencing growth. I'm excited about what they are doing with the facilities and it's a team that has battled through some hard times and shows great promise in the future.
"I'm proud to be a part of this team."
Leach, 50, was fired by Texas Tech in December of 2009 following a dispute over his handling of receiver Adam James. The son of ESPN announcer Craig James, Adam James claimed Leach forced him to sit in a construction closet during practice after suffering a concussion in a game.
In reaction to his firing, Leach filed a lawsuit against the school and ESPN. That lawsuit is still pending.
On the field, Leach was a big success. His teams were 84-43 and reached a bowl game in each of his 10 seasons.
Tommy Tuberville succeeded him and is 13-12 in two seasons, including a 5-7 mark this year which is the school's first losing record since 1992.
Leach will have a big task rebuilding Washington State, which has not played in a bowl game since 2003 after Rose Bowl appearances following the 1997 and 2002 seasons.
Wulff was 9-40 in four seasons with the Cougars, though the team improved to 4-8 in 2011.
Contributing: Wire reports
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