Mike White (American football coach)

For other individuals named Mike White or Michael White, see Michael White (disambiguation).

Mike White
White in 2007
Biographical details
Born(1936-01-04)January 4, 1936
Berkeley, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 2025(2025-12-14) (aged 89)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Playing career
1955–1957California
Positions
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1958–1963California (DL)
1964–1971Stanford (OC/OL)
1972–1977California
1978–1979San Francisco 49ers (OL)
1980–1987Illinois
1990–1994Los Angeles Raiders (QB/OL)
1995–1996Oakland Raiders
1997–1999St. Louis Rams (OA)
Head coaching record
Overall82–71–4 (college)
15–17 (NFL)
Bowls0–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Michael Kavanaugh White (January 4, 1936 – December 14, 2025) was an American football player and coach. He had 16 years' experience as a head coach, including stints at the University of California, Berkeley (1972–1977), the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (1980–1987) and the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) (1995–1996).

Early life

Michael Kavanaugh White[4] was born in Berkeley, California, on January 4, 1936.[5] He attended Acalanes High School where he was a multi-sport athlete who lettered 13 times.[6]

White played various sports with the California Golden Bears, including rugby, track, basketball, and football.[6] In football, White played at left end,[7] alongside being a wide receiver and punter.[8] He was credited as an important figure in the Bears' passing game at the time,[9] winning three varsity letters. In track, he won both high hurdles and high jump in a 1957 meet against Stanford.[8]

College coaching career

White began his coaching career immediately following his playing career, becoming the freshman coach for the Cal Bears.[10][11] He later transitioned in 1963 to the varsity team to work as end coach.[12] He left Cal in 1964 to join head coach John Ralston at Stanford University, replacing Frank Williams and an assistant coach.[13] The change was referred to as "not unexpected" by the Peninsula Times Tribune,[14] and had been rumored the year prior.[12] He served as an offensive line coach and was credited for reviving Stanford's pass protection.[15][16] He also served as offensive coordinator,[17] helping Stanford to two back-to-back Rose Bowl Game wins; a 27–17 game against the Ohio State Buckeyes,[18] and a 13–12 win over the Michigan Wolverines.[19]

After receiving offers from both Stanford and UC Berkeley, White became the head coach of the Cal Bears in 1972.[20] As head coach, White was named National Coach of the Yearin 1975. He coached a team led by Joe Roth and Chuck Muncie to the Pac-8 co-championship—the school's first conference title in 18 years.[8][21] White was a major contributor in the development of eventual College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Bartkowski. After spending six seasons with the team, White was fired "unceremoniously" by athletic director Dave Maggard after a 7–4 season.[22]

White returned to college football in 1980 to coach at the University of Illinois, succeeding Gary Moeller.[23] White quickly turned around the Illinois football program, posting a winning season in only his second year.[24] He led the Illini to the Liberty Bowl, the school's first bowl appearance since the 1964 Rose Bowl.[25] The following season in 1983, Illinois won its first Big Ten title in 20 years[26] with an overall record of 10–1, including a 9–0 conference record, and played in the 1984 Rose Bowl. White was honored for his team's achievements by being named National Coach of the Year. The 1983 Illinois team is the only team in Big Ten history to beat each of the other conference teams in a single season.[10][27] White also led the Fighting Illini to the 1985 Peach Bowl, which they lost to Army 31–29.[28] In eight seasons at Illinois, White's teams had a combined record of 47–41–3, for a winning percentage of .533.[29] Along the way, White coached future record-setting NFL wide receiver David Williams.[27] White resigned as Illinois coach after the 1987 season due to recruiting violations.[30]

NFL coaching career

White's first stint in the National Football League came after being fired from the head coaching job at the University of California. He took the job as offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 after turning down an offer to coach at Acalanes High School, his alma mater.[31] At the time, the 49ers were commonly referred to as the worst team in the NFL[22][32] with the line being called "about as effective as the Maginot Line in World War II" by John Porter of the Oakland Tribune.[31] When head coach Bill Walsh joined the team in 1979, White was the only assistant coach he retained from its previous iteration. White aided in the transition process before serving as an administrative assistant.[33][34]

On April 27, 1990, White was hired to serve as quarterbacks coach of the Los Angeles Raiders. He later coached the offensive line in 1993.[35] White was hired to replace Art Shell as head coach of the team on February 2, 1995.[36] In the first season for the team back in Oakland after 12 years in Los Angeles, the Raiders rocketed to an 8–2 start. But the team went into a nosedive, losing their final six games (with four of the six losses being without Jeff Hostetler at quarterback due to injury) to finish 8–8.[37] With a "gourmet-variety offense" based on the intent to throw short, the Raiders finished with a 7–9 record in 1996. White was fired by the Raiders on Christmas Eve, being given the news by Bruce Allen though Al Davis was involved in the decision.[38][39]

White was on the coaching staff of the Rams from 1997 to 1999, including a Super Bowl victory at the conclusion of the '99 season.[29] White later served as the Director of Football Administration for the Kansas City Chiefs, beginning in 2001.[40]

Personal life and death

White was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, as well as a board member for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.[41]

White died in Newport Beach, California on December 14, 2025, at the age of 89.[8][42]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
California Golden Bears (Pacific-10 Conference) (1972–1977)
1972 California 3–8 3–4 5th
1973 California 4–7 2–5 T–5th
1974 California 7–3–1 4–2–1 T–3rd
1975 California 8–3 6–1 T–1st 15 14
1976 California 5–6 3–4 T–4th
1977 California 8–3 4–3 5th
California: 35–30–1 21–19–1
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (1980–1987)
1980 Illinois 3–7–1 3–5 T–6th
1981 Illinois 7–4 6–3 T–3rd
1982 Illinois 7–5 6–3 4th L Liberty
1983 Illinois 10–2 9–0 1st L Rose 10 10
1984 Illinois 7–4 6–3 T–2nd
1985 Illinois 6–5–1 5–2–1 3rd L Peach
1986 Illinois 4–7 3–5 T–6th
1987 Illinois 3–7–1 2–5–1 8th
Illinois: 47–41–3 40–26–2
Total: 82–71–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

National Football League

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
OAK 1995 8 8 0 .500 5th in AFC West - -
OAK 1996 7 9 0 .438 4th in AFC West - -
Total 15 17 0 .469
Source:[44]

References

  1. ^ "The Sporting News college football coach of the year". The Salt Lake Tribune. December 10, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "White named coach of year". Quad-City Times. Associated Press. December 4, 1983. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "Illinois' White cited by Big Ten". The Duluth News-Tribune. December 3, 1983. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "Majors, White head coaches". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 28, 1976. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Maxymuk, John (2012). NFL Head Coaches. McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers. p. 339. ISBN 9780786465576. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Gandy, Jerry (November 14, 1957). "A Gander At Sports". Martinez News-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "First-year Cal coach Pete Elliott..." The Berkeley Gazette. November 22, 1957. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Former Cal Football Head Coach Mike White Passes Away". Cal Athletics. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "Mike White, former Acalanes athlete". Martinez News-Gazette. October 12, 1956. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Catching Up With Mike White". Cal Athletics. April 4, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "Mike White Opens Frosh Grid Practice at California". Martinez News-Gazette. United Press International. September 29, 1959. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Bernstein, Donn (January 23, 1963). "Ex-Pro Star Due Soon; White to Stay at Cal". The Berkeley Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "Cal Grid Aide Mike White to Stanford". Martinez News-Gazette. Associated Press. January 30, 1964. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "Mike White joins Card grid staff". The Peninsula Times Tribune. January 29, 1964. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ^ Peters, Nick (November 25, 1968). "Nick's Notebook". The Berkeley Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  16. ^ Gamage, Walt (September 20, 1968). "Stanford offensive line coach says his group is 'overlooked'". The Peninsula Times Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  17. ^ "White speaks tonight at Ohlone grid clinic". The Argus of Fremont, Newark and Union City. May 6, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Peters, Nick (September 1, 1971). "Ex-Bear Tabs Cal over Ohio St., Arkansas". The Berkeley Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "3 Minutes of Agony". Oakland Tribune. January 2, 1972. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  20. ^ Wik, Dave (January 21, 1972). "Mike White will take Cal coaching job". The Peninsula Times Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  21. ^ Curtis, Jake (December 15, 2025). "Mike White, Head Coach of Cal's Powerful 1975 Squad, Dies". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  22. ^ a b Blackman, Frank (November 15, 1978). "Mike White: Another chance, please". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  23. ^ "White gets Illinois job". The News and Observer. Associated Press. December 15, 1979. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  24. ^ "White, tabbed North coach, eyes big recruiting year". The Dispatch. United Press International. November 24, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  25. ^ Balthazar, Mark (November 16, 1982). "Illinois, Alabama headed for Liberty". The Daily Illini. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  26. ^ Minkoff, Randy (October 21, 1983). "Ticket to Pasadena not paid for by QBs". The Reporter-Times. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Beherns, Bret (September 25, 2019). "Mike White weighs in on Illini football". WCIA. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  28. ^ Saladino, Tom (January 2, 1986). "Army grabs second bowl win". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Mike White, former Cal, Illinois and Raiders coach, dies at 89". ESPN. Associated Press. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  30. ^ "White Resigns at Illinois After NCAA Investigation". Los Angeles Times. January 19, 1988. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  31. ^ a b Porter, John (March 9, 1978). "White passed up preps - John Porter". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  32. ^ Crane, Omer (February 8, 1979). "Masochist Mike White Enjoys 49ers". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  33. ^ Dickey, Glenn (June 16, 1979). "Coaching Friends Together Again". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  34. ^ Bass, Mike (December 18, 2025). "Late-arriving Mike White delays selection process". The Daily Illini. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  35. ^ Heisler, Mark (April 28, 1990). "Raiders Hire Mike White, Former Illini and Cal Coach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  36. ^ "NFL NOTES / Mike White New Raider Coach / Davis fires Art Shell". SFGATE. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  37. ^ Tribune, Chicago (January 28, 2000). "WHITE LIKES PLAYING ORGANIZATION MAN". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  38. ^ Schapiro, Washington Post, Dec. 25, 1996
  39. ^ Ron Kroichick, Chronicle Staff Writer. "Raiders Go With Bugel / New coach promises to get tough". SFGATE. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  40. ^ "CHIEFS NAME MIKE WHITE DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION". NFL. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  41. ^ "Lott IMPACT Trophy -". Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  42. ^ "Former Illini head coach Mike White dead at 89". WAND. December 14, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  43. ^ "The saga of Illini Football: head coaches through the years". Herald-Review. May 7, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  44. ^ "Mike White". Pro-football-history.com. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_White_(football_coach)