Michael White named National Coach of the Year

REEDLEY COLLEGE
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lori Bonilla, Public Information Officer
December 12, 2002

The 2002 season was Michael White's thirteenth season as head coach of the Reedley College Tigers. An unlucky number for some, this thirteenth season has been a special one for Coach White and his Tigers. White has been named the 2002 National Coach of the Year by the American Community College Football Coaches Association. White will be honored at the AFCA Convention in New Orleans on January 7. He was selected from a field of 37 coaches from around the country. The other three finalists were Fresno City College Head Coach Tony Caviglia, Joliet Junior College Head Coach Bob MacDougal, and Georgia Military College Head Coach Bert Williams.

The Tigers are currently 11-0, and the only undefeated team in the state of California. They won the Central Valley Conference title, the Northern California Championship, and will play Saturday, December 14 for the State Championship. The Tigers earned their stripes this season under Coach White and are currently ranked #1 in the nation. In addition to this, White was honored as Central Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

"We are thrilled that Coach White is being recognized for the outstanding program that he's developed here at Reedley College," states RC President Tom Crow, "He and the team are real sources of pride for the community of Reedley."

White has been coaching football for 22 years. Before coming to Reedley College in 1989, he served as an assistant football coach at the University of New Mexico. Prior to that White was as an assistant coach for CSU Long Beach and Boise State University and originally began his coaching career at Lower Lake High School in 1980. White is a former player of UC Davis where he also earned his bachelor's degree. He went on to earn a master's degree in Physical Education from the University of New Mexico.

White¹s previous coaching honors with the Tigers include: 2000 Merced Elk Bowl Champions, a 1999 invitation to East County Bowl, and a 1995 invitation to the Producer's Dairy Bowl.

Originally from Concord California, White now resides in Reedley with his wife Ruth and daughters Lauren (16) and Hayley (8). White describes his family as his "grounding, to keep things in perspective."

For more information on Coach White, contact RC Athletic Director Jack Hacker at (559) 638-0303.