# Mike White (American football coach)

Michael Kavanaugh White (born January 4, 1936) is an American former football player and coach. He has 16 years experience as a head coach, including stints at the University of California, Berkeley (1972–1977), the University of Illinois (1980–1987) and the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) (1995–1996).

## College coaching career

During his college coaching career, White was twice named National Coach of the Year, first in 1975 at California. He coached a team led by Joe Roth, Chuck Muncie and Wesley Walker to the Pac-8 co-championship—the school's first conference title in 18 years.
White moved to the University of Illinois in 1980. He succeeded Gary Moeller, who in three seasons at Illinois finished no higher than eighth in the Big Ten Conference. White quickly turned around the Illinois football program, posting a winning season in only his second year. In 1982, he led the Illini 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 its first Big Ten title in 20 years with an overall record of 10–1, including a 9–0 conference record, and played in the 1984 Rose Bowl. It also marked the first time since 1967 that neither Michigan nor Ohio State won at least a share of the conference title. 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. White also led the Fighting Illini to the 1985 Peach Bowl, which they lost to Army 31–29. 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. White resigned as Illinois coach after the 1987 season due to recruiting violations.

## NFL coaching career

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.
White was hired to replace Art Shell as coach of the team on February 2, 1995. 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.
With a "gourmet-variety offense" based on the intent to throw short, the Raiders went 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.
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. White later served as the Director of Football Administration for the Kansas City Chiefs.

## Personal and later life

White is a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.
White is a board member for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Ronnie Lott and is awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

## 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: | 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: | Illinois: | 47–41–3 | 40–26–2 | | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 82–71–4 | | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||||
| $^#$Rankings from final Coaches Poll. $^°$Rankings from final AP Poll. ||||||||

### National Football League

| Team | Year | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Post Season | Post Season | Post Season | Post Season |
| Team | Year | 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 | Total | 15 | 17 | 0 | .469 | | | | | |