Howard White (American football)

Robert Howard White (born February 21, 1922) is a former American football coach, scout, and executive. He served as the head football coach at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales, New Mexico from 1967 to 1969, compiling a record of 8–20–1. He was also the head football coach at Riverside City College in Riverside, California from 1957 to 1959, tallying a mark of 20–6–2. White later worked as a scout for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) and as a personnel executive for the Arizona Wranglers and the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).

Howard White
Biographical details
Born (1922-02-21) February 21, 1922 (age 102)
Playing career
Football
1940–1941Riverside
1942San Diego State
1946USC
Basketball
1940–1942Riverside
Position(s)End (football)
Guard (basketball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1948Hoover HS (CA) (assistant)
1949–1951La Jolla HS (CA) (assistant)
1952Escondido HS (CA)
1953–1956Riverside Polytechnic HS (CA)
1957–1959Riverside
1960–1961New Mexico State (backfield)
1962–1963West Texas State (backfield)
1964–1966California (assistant)
1967–1969Eastern New Mexico
Baseball
1950–1952La Jolla HS (CA)
Track
1960–1962New Mexico State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1972–1976BLESTO (scout)
1976–1979San Francisco 49ers (scout)
1982–1983Arizona Wranglers (DPP)
1983–1984New Orleans Breakers (DPP)
Head coaching record
Overall8–20–1 (college football)
20–6–2 (junior college football)
38–10–1 (high school football)
Bowls0–1 (junior college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
2 Eastern Conference (1958–1959)

A native of Escondido, California, he played college football in the 1940s at Riverside Junior College, San Diego State University, and the University of Southern California (USC). White began his coaching career in the Southern California high school ranks in the late 1940s and 1950s. In between his head coaching tenures at Riverside and Eastern New Mexico, he was an assistant football coach at New Mexico State University, West Texas State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Early life, playing career, education, and military service

edit

White was born on February 21, 1922. He attended Escondido High School in Escondido, California, where lettered in football, basketball, and track. In football, he played as an end and was voted most valuable player. White was captain of the basketball team for two season and earned three letters in track, competing in the half-mile and high hurdles.[1]

After graduating from Escondido High School in 1940, White went to Riverside Junior College—now known as Riverside City College—in Riverside, California, where played football as an end and basketball as a guard.[2][3] In 1942, he transferred to San Diego State University and played for the 1942 San Diego State Aztecs football team. In the season finale, a 28–13 loss to Whittier, White caught a pass from Art Blaisdell for an extra point.[4]

White's college career was interrupted by military service during World War II. He served in Europe as a lieutenant in the United States Army with the 12th Armored Division.[1] After the war, White matriculated at the University of Southern California (USC), playing football in 1946 and earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1948. He added a Master of Education from USC in 1955.[5]

Coaching career

edit

White began his coaching career in 1948 as an assistant football coach at Hoover High School in San Diego.[6] In 1949, he moved to La Jolla High School, serving as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach for three years. White returned to his alma mater, Escondido High School, as head football coach in 1952.[1] He led the Escondido Cougars to a record of 6–3 in the fall of 1952.[7]

White was the head football coach at Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California from 1953 to 1956, tallying a mark of 32–7–1 in four seasons. In 1957, he was hired as the head football coach at Riverside City College, succeeding Nate DeFrancisco.[8] White led the Riverside Tigers to two Eastern Conference titles and a record of 20–6–2 in three seasons before resigning in 1960.[9]

In 1960, White was hired as head track coach and assistant football coach under Warren B. Woodson at New Mexico State University.[10] He was an assistant football coach at West Texas State University—now known as West Texas A&M University—under Joe Kerbel from 1962 to 1963 and at the University of California, Berkeley from 1964 to 1966 under Ray Willsey.[11][12] In 1967, White was hired as head football coach and assistant professor of health, physical education, and recreation at Eastern New Mexico.[5] He resigned as football coach following the 1969 season.[13] He posted a record of 8–20–1 in three seasons and was succeeded by Jack Scott.[14]

Scouting and personnel career

edit

From 1972 to 1976, White worked as an administrator for BLESTO, a scouting organization for the National Football League (NFL). In 1976, he was hired by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL as director of college personnel.[15] He resigned from his post with the 49ers three years later.[16] In the 1980s, White was the director of the player personnel for the Arizona Wranglers and the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).[17]

Head coaching record

edit

College football

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds (NAIA independent) (1967–1969)
1967 Eastern New Mexico 3–6
1968 Eastern New Mexico 4–5–1
1969 Eastern New Mexico 1–9
Eastern New Mexico: 8–20–1
Total: 8–20–1

Junior college football

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Riverside Tigers (Eastern Conference) (1957–1959)
1957 Riverside 4–4–1 4–3–1 3rd
1958 Riverside 9–1 7–0 1st L Potato Bowl
1959 Riverside 7–1–1 5–1–1 T–1st
Riverside: 20–6–2 13–4–1
Total: 20–6–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Howard White of La Jolla, Ex-EUHS Athlete Appointed Cougar Grid Coach". Weekly Times-Advocate. Escondido, California. May 23, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Riverside Here, Guns For J.C. Grid Title (continued)". Santa Ana Register. Santa Ana, California. November 7, 1941. p. 11. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Don, Bengal Fives Clash". Santa Ana Register. Santa Ana, California. February 20, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "Poets Defeat Aztecs". The Sun. San Bernardino, California. Associated Press. November 15, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ a b "FB Coach Announced At ENMU". Clovis News-Journal. Clovis, New Mexico. February 26, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ Weide, Bob (January 25, 1949). "In The "Bullpen"". Riverside Daily Press. Riverside, California. p. 8. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  7. ^ Kenney, Ron (March 3, 2016). "Remembering old Escondido High School". Escondido Times-Advocate. Escondido, California. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Riverside College Hires New Coach". Stockton Record. Stockton, California. Associated Press. January 10, 1957. p. 32. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  9. ^ Mauldin, Doug (May 29, 1960). "Losing Coaches Have No Worry". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 8S. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  10. ^ "Aggies Hire New Track Coach". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press. June 1, 1960. p. C2. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  11. ^ "Howard White New Assistant At California". The Daily Sun. San Bernardino, California. Associated Press. January 24, 1964. p. C4. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  12. ^ "Don't expect Howard White". The Berkeley Gazette. February 7, 1967. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "ENMU Mentor Resigns Post". Clovis News-Journal. Clovis, New Mexico. December 4, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  14. ^ "Eastern Names Football Coach". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press. January 17, 1970. p. C3. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  15. ^ "49ers hire Howard White". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. United Press International. June 15, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  16. ^ "49ers Scouting Head Resigns". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. Associated Press. January 31, 1979. p. C2. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  17. ^ "Evans Plans Jump To Blitz". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. November 15, 1983. p. D4. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .