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Mike White, the accomplished football coach who spent time leading programs in both college and the NFL with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, has died.
White died in Newport Beach, California, aged 89.
“The Raiders family is saddened by the passing of Mike White, former head coach of the Silver and Black and a longtime NFL and college coach and mentor,” the Raiders said in a statement. “The prayers of all of Raider Nation are with MIke’s family at this time.”
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Oakland Raiders head coach Mike White watches from the sideline as an assistant coach gestures during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium on November 5, 1995 in Cincinnati. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
White spent seven years coaching with the Raiders, two of which served as their head coach from 1995-96. He previously served in quarterbacks and offensive line coaching roles.
But White’s coaching career began at the ripe old age of 22 when he joined the Cal Golden Bears as 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 on to Stanford as their offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1964-71.
White’s time with the Golden Bears was not over, however, as he returned to Berkeley to lead them as their head coach. He served in that role from 1972-77.
White finally broke into the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, serving as the team’s offensive line coach for two years.
Then it was back to college, this time leading the Illinois Fighting Illini from 1980-87 as head coach.
After his time with the Raiders, White was an offensive assistant at the St. Louis Rams.
White’s coaching career spanned five decades and he influenced many coaches and players along the way.
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“Mike was special,” Burl Toler Jr., who played for the Golden Bears from 1974-77, said of White. “He treated us like men and with a lot of respect. Mike was a very gifted and smart coach who loved Cal and loved being a coach, and he surrounded himself with a lot of like-minded people who instilled in us a will to succeed.”
