Mike White, who coached Raiders and multiple college programs, dies at 89
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Mike White, the accomplished football coach who spent time coaching programs in both college and the NFL with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, has died.
White died in Newport Beach, California, at age 89.
“The Raiders family is saddened by the passing of Mike White, former Silver and Black head coach and longtime NFL and college coach and mentor,” the Raiders said in a statement. “The prayers of all Raider Nation are with MIke’s family at this time.”
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Head coach Mike White of the Oakland Raiders watches from the sideline as an assistant coach gestures during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium on Nov. 5, 1995, in Cincinnati. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
White spent seven years coaching with the Raiders, two of them as head coach between 1995 and 1996. He previously served as quarterbacks and offensive line coach.
White’s coaching career began at the age of 22, when he joined the Cal Golden Bears as a defensive line coach in 1958 after being a four-sport athlete at the school in the 1950s.
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He served in that role for six years before moving to Stanford as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1964-71.
University of California, Berkeley, entrance sign at the corner of Oxford Street and Center Street in Berkeley, California. (iStock)
However, White’s time with the Golden Bears was not over. He returned to Berkeley to lead them as head coach from 1972 to 1977.
White finally broke into the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, where he served as the team’s offensive line coach for two years.
He then returned to college, this time leading the Illinois Fighting Illini from 1980 to 1987 as head coach.
After his time with the Raiders, White was an offensive assistant with the St. Louis Rams.
White’s coaching career spanned five decades and he had an impact on many coaches and players along the way.
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“Mike was special,” Burl Toler Jr., who played for the Golden Bears from 1974 to 1977, said of White. “He treated us like men and with a lot of respect. Mike was a very talented and intelligent coach who loved Cal and loved coaching, and he surrounded himself with a lot of like minds who instilled in us the will to succeed.”
The News contributed to this report.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital.