Mike White (American football)

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For other individuals named Mike White or Michael White see Michael White
Mike White in 2007.
Mike White in 2007.

Mike White is an American football coach. He has 16 years experience as a head coach, including stints at the University of California (1972-1977), the University of Illinois (1980-1987) and the Oakland Raiders (1995-1996).

During his successful college coaching career, White was twice named National Coach of the Year, first in 1975 where he coached a team led by Joe Roth, Chuck Muncie and Wesley Walker to the Pac-8 co-championship.

White moved to the University of Illinois in 1980. White succeeded Gary Moeller, who in three seasons at Illinois would finish no higher than 8th in the Big Ten. White quickly turned around the Illinois football program, posting a winning season in only his second year. In 1982, Illinois went to the Liberty Bowl, the school's first bowl appearance since the 1964 Rose Bowl. The 1982 Liberty Bowl was also notable as the final game coached by University of Alabama head coach Bear Bryant. In 1983, Illinois won the Big Ten title 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 UPI 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, (an achievement made possible by the fact that rarely in conference history have teams played all the other teams in a season.) White would also lead the Fighting Illini to the 1985 Peach Bowl. In eight seasons at Illinois, White's teams had a combined record of 47-41-3, for a winning percentage of .533. Along the way, White coached future NFL quarterbacks Dave Wilson, Tony Eason, and Jack Trudeau, and record-setting wide receiver David Williams.

His years as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders are best recalled for the team's collapse in the 1995 season, when the 8-2 Raiders went into a nosedive, losing their final 6 games to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs. He later served as the Director of Football Administration for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He a member of The Delta Upsilon Fraternity.

Since 2006, White has served as Camp Blue's manager at the Lair of the Golden Bear, a family camp run by the California Alumni Association.

[edit] Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl Coaches# AP°
California Golden Bears (Pac 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 21-20-1
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 15-21 Liberty Bowl
1983 Illinois 10-2 9-0 1st L 9-45 Rose Bowl 10 10
1984 Illinois 7-4 6-3 T-2nd
1985 Illinois 6-5-1 5-2-1 3rd L 29-31 Peach Bowl
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
Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season.
°Rankings from final AP Poll of the season.


[edit] External links

Preceded by
Art Shell
Oakland Raiders Head Coaches
1995–1996
Succeeded by
Joe Bugel
Preceded by
Gary Moeller
University of Illinois Football Head Coaches
19801987
Succeeded by
John Mackovic
Preceded by
Jerry Stovall
Walter Camp Coach of the Year
1983
Succeeded by
Joe Morrison
Preceded by
Ray Willsey
University of California, Berkeley Head Coaches
19721977
Succeeded by
Roger Theder