Mike White ( football coach ) Michael Kavanaugh White ( born January 4 , 1936 ) is former American 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 NFL ( 1995 – 1996 ) . College coaching career . During his 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 . 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 , 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 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 , an achievement made possible by the fact that rarely in conference history have teams played all the other teams in a 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 quarterback s Dave Wilson , Tony Eason , and Jack Trudeau , and record - setting wide receiver David Williams . NFL coaching career . White ' s 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 six games to finish 8 – 8 and out of the playoffs . Following 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 . It is likely that the call was made in the morning , allowing White ' s family to enjoy Christmas Eve . White was on the coaching staff of the Rams 1997 - 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 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 Cal Alumni Association . 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 .