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‘Radically original’ coach writes about warrior leader

Mike Leach
Mike Leach
Buddy Levy
Buddy Levy

A new book by Cougar football head coach Mike Leach is described as a readable history of Geronimo that also offers practical life and business advice gleaned from the Apache warrior’s leadership approach.

“Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior” (Gallery Books; hardcover $26) will go on sale May 6. Leach wrote it with Buddy Levy, clinical associate professor of English at WSU.

The book examines the strategies, decisions and personal qualities that made Geronimo a success. “Much of his genius can be ascribed to old-fashioned values such as relentless training and preparation, leveraging resources, finding ways to turn defeats into victories and being faster and more nimble than his enemy,” according to a news release from the publisher.

Learn more about Leach and Levy’s new book

Warrior Geronimo inspires WSU book collaboration

Buddy Levy
Buddy Levy

By Kaylee Ray and Kenny Short, WSU News interns

An upcoming book coauthored by Washington State University’s Mike Leach and Buddy Levy about Apache warrior Geronimo will focus on leadership.

Levy, a clinical associate professor who teaches English at WSU, said he originally pitched the idea to his agent who also represents Leach, WSU head football coach. The agent suggested talking to Leach because he knew Leach is fascinated by Geronimo.

Mike Leach
Mike Leach

“It started when my mom would read us books when we were kids, and for some reason I got into Geronimo,” Leach said. “We’d go to the library and grab these historic books about him, and she would read them every night.”

The book, still in the works, will talk about general leadership and problem-solving skills that spill over into all aspects of management and people, Levy said. His strong point is the history, whereas Leach has a profound understanding of leadership, he said.  Continue story →