Mike White, former Raiders and college head coach, dead at 89

Mike White, the former football head coach of the Raiders, the University of California and Illinois, died Sunday in Newport Beach, Calif. 

He was 89. 

White spent five seasons as a quarterbacks and offensive line coach for the Raiders before getting elevated to head coach in 1995, lasting two seasons at the helm.

Former Raiders coach Mike White died Sunday. Getty Images

He also served as an assistant for the 49ers and rounded out his career as an offensive assistant with the Rams when they won the Super Bowl during the 1999 season.

“The Raiders Family is saddened by the passing of Mike White, former head coach of the Silver and Black and a long-time NFL and college coach and mentor,” the Raiders said in a statement. “The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Mike’s family at this time.”

Raiders coach Mike White and quarterback Todd Marinovich in 1992. Paul Spinelli via AP

A four-sport student-athlete at Cal in the 1950s, White helmed his alma mater from 1972-79.

Enshrined in the program’s Hall of Fame, White was named the national Coach of the Year in 1975 when he led the Golden Bears to their first conference title in 17 years. 

“Mike was special,” said Burl Toler Jr., a linebacker who played at Cal from 1974 to 1977. “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 minds who instilled in us a will to succeed.”

White spent two seasons with the 49ers as an offensive line coach before returning to college football in 1980 to coach Illinois. 

Headlining his eight-year tenure, White was named the 1983 national Big Ten Coach of the Year for lifting the Illini to their first Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance in two decades.