Mike Leach: HBO and Pete Berg Docu-Series Perfect for Misunderstood WSU Coach

Former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach hasn't coached a college football game since the 2009 season. In fact, he wasn't even allowed to coach his team's bowl game that year because of the controversy surrounding his handling of an injured player.

The Washington State Cougars are going to give him a chance though, and the embattled, misunderstood coach may actually do them one better.

Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable reports that HBO is interested in developing a new documentary series centered around Leach and his return to the gridiron.

The team leading the project consists of Pete Berg, Jim Lampley, Sarah Aubrey and Michael Price—the same group responsible for the HBO's new docu-series On Freddie Roach.

Grossman quotes Berg as saying, "I assume HBO will go for it because it will be really good. I don't know why they wouldn't."

But most importantly Berg said, "I was just fascinated with him."

And by "was" he means the first time he reached out to Leach before ultimately working with him on the Emmy Award-winning series Friday Night Lights.

Berg directed the film version of H.G. Bissinger's book of the same title and then adapted it for a full-length series on NBC/DirecTV.

It is safe to say that Berg knows a thing or two about handling football, cameras, drama and intrigue.

For the Cougars, a program that has won only nine games in the last four years and seen a considerable drop in fan interest, a well-produced HBO series certainly isn't going to hurt them.

And for Leach it is an obvious shot at redemption.

All involved parties benefit from this potential project and it is a prime example of a win-win situation.

HBO has had tremendous success with their Hard Knocks series chronicling an NFL franchise during training camp and although this is only college, Leach and Berg's names will certainly help give it a boost.

Berg's project, according to Grossman, plans to "cover training camp and through the first or second game of the season."

When Leach appeared on FNL he had some advice for the beloved fictional character coach Eric Taylor when randomly meeting him at a gas station:

Leach is getting back his "inner pirate" by returning to the sidelines. It would be one hell of a ride if we got a chance to watch it.