In an article last Friday by Tom Fornelli from Cbssports.com, Mike Leach was tabbed the most overpaid coach in college football.

Fornelli wrote that thus far, Leach has made more than $600,000 per win. With a yearly salary of $2.75 million, and just 12 wins, it’s hard to argue with Fornelli’s logic.

I’m going to do it anyway.

Fornelli goes on to write that those aforementioned salary statistics were not what WSU was looking for when they hired Leach, and this is where he is wrong.

WSU hired Leach to turn the football program into a dynasty — a perennial Rose Bowl contender. What he has done up to this point is irrelevant. I believe you cannot truly rate a coach until their fourth season at the helm. This gives them time to fully implement their system and bring in their players.

Leach’s report card should be graded by what he does going forward. This season marks the last one where any Paul Wulff recruits will be on the roster. Most of the contributors are guys Leach recruited himself. A veteran offensive line returns, and Leach has had three years to implement the Air Raid — which has improved every single year he has been in Pullman.

However, if we were to assess the job Leach has done in three years in Pullman, it is worth recognizing that Leach has done a fine job. Keep in mind; Leach is in charge of the offense, and the offense has fared better and better each year since he took over.

In Leach’s first season in 2012, a much maligned offense struggling through learning curves and locker room controversy ranked 100th in total offense. In 2013, that number shot up to 51st — the team’s passing offense ranked fourth. And in 2014, WSU featured the 19th best offense in the country; their 5,732 passing yards were the best in the nation.

Along with competing for conference championships, Leach was brought in to create excitement over what had become a stagnant offense under Paul Wulff. No head coach in the country has been able to execute their passing game as well as Leach. The stats speak for themselves here.

It has been Mike Breske and the defense that has let Leach down. After a six-win season in 2013, the defense gave up more points and more yards per game last season.

We can also look at Leach’s recruiting classes as reason to believe the Cougars are moving in the right direction. Despite some late flips on signing day two months ago, Leach still brought in the best class WSU had seen since 2004, a year in which they were coming off three bowls in three seasons. Leach was able to bring in his class after winning just three games the previous season.

Improvement is imminent. Fans can see the stars Leach has been able to develop and churn out. This month, Connor Halliday, Vince Mayle and Xavier Cooper are all projected to be picked in the NFL draft.

This shows there shouldn’t be worry of Leach not being able to develop his talent. Recruiting stars is irrelevant if the coaching staff can’t develop the talent. Leach has shown he can his players to be NFL caliber athletes.

Many of Leach’s critics cite his stubbornness and inability to change his philosophies to get with the times after getting out of coaching for a few years. I’ll admit that I was becoming weary on this as well, but this offseason, Leach has demonstrated an ability to evolve as a coach.

For example, this spring, reports from practice state the quarterback is taking more snaps under center during running plays. This could lead to an ability to score and gain more first downs in short yardage situations — a weakness of the offense in the past.

Also, Ian Book, a 2016 commit at quarterback is more mobile than quarterbacks Leach has recruited in the past. Previously, mobility wasn’t a trait Leach put a terrible amount of emphasis on. But after seeing Luke Falk’s ability to extend plays and make things happen with his feet last year, it is evident that mobility in a quarterback adds another dynamic to an already dynamic offense.

WSU didn’t hire Leach to make some short-term fixes and turn around the program overnight, which is kind of what Fornelli has asserted. Leach is an investment. While it may seem like it isn’t paying off right now, it will, and when it does no one is going to think twice about his salary.