Moses Lake native and former Yakima television sports anchor Derek Deis epitomized, on live TV, what many across Eastern Washington and the nation were feeling today when the news of former Washington State University football coach Mike Leach’s passing came to light.
Deis, who spent time at KNDO-TV and is now a news anchor, was not able to get through his report during his morning show segment that he co-hosts on Spokane’s KXLY-TV.
He later tweeted on his social media page (see: below).
Deis also hosts the Cougars football radio pre and postgame and came to know Coach Leach quite well.
The impact is quite evident in the clip.
Derek is a father of two and an all-around nice guy. We send him, as well as WSU and college football fans everywhere, our condolences.
#SwingYourSword
๐ I tried really hard, gang. I just couldn’t do it. #RIPMikeLeach #GoCougs #SwingYourSword๐ดโโ ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/JzuyIyZhpD
โ Derek Deis (@DerekKXLY) December 13, 2022
๐๏ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๏ธ#SwingYourSword pic.twitter.com/Bc5R6mSMay
โ Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 13, 2022