Feb. 22, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has named Chris White as an assistant coach on his Hawkeye staff. White, who will coach Iowa’s running backs and coordinate special teams, will join the Hawkeye staff immediately.
“I am very excited to have Chris join our staff,” said Ferentz. “Chris has considerable special teams, offensive, and recruiting experience from college and professional football to offer our program.”
White joins the Iowa coaching staff after serving the previous four years on the coaching staff of the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked with the special teams. He previously coached on the collegiate level for 17 years.
For the past four seasons, White has assisted in coaching the Viking special teams. In 2012, Minnesota posted a 10-6 record, earning a Wild Card playoff berth while setting a team record for biggest turnaround in victories from one season to the next.
In 2012, Minnesota’s special teams were recognized with the No. 1 ranking in the well-respected Dallas Morning News season-ending special teams’ evaluations. The special teams unit was headlined by rookie kicker Blair Walsh’s record-setting season, as he earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Over the past two seasons, the Vikings 26.8-yard kickoff return average led the NFL. Defensively, the Vikings led the NFL by allowing only 18 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards. Minnesota was third in the NFL with an average starting field position at the 24.6 yard line following kickoff returns, and had six kickoff returns of 40-plus yards. The return units earned a place in the Minnesota record book by returning both a kick and punt return for a touchdown at Detroit.
White joined the Vikings after a nine-year stint at Syracuse University where, at different times throughout his tenure, he coached wide receivers and tight ends, and was also the special teams’ coordinator and recruiting coordinator. White’s nine seasons at Syracuse were highlighted by a 2001 Insight Bowl victory and a share of the Big East championship in 2004. A combined seven units ranked in the nation’s top 20 under White’s direction as special teams coordinator from 2000-03.
White served as the Orange’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, a post he moved to prior to the 2005 season. He spent his first three years at Syracuse working with the tight ends and as special teams’ coordinator.
White served a dual-role at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 1999, working as both defensive and special teams’ coordinator. White spent three seasons at UNLV (1996-98), serving as linebackers coach and special teams’ coordinator. The lone head coaching job of White’s career came during a three-year stint with Bishop Manogue High School in Las Vegas from 1994-96. He was named the Northern Nevada Coach of the Year in 1996.
White’s first full-time role in coaching came as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the College of the Holy Cross (Mass., 1993-94). White began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Syracuse (1990-91) and Arkansas State (1992).
In his first stint at Syracuse, White worked with former Vikings quarterback coach Kevin Rogers and Paul Pasqualoni. The team won the 1990 Aloha and 1991 Hall of Fame bowls.
During his college career, White was a four-year starter at quarterback for Colby College (Maine) and was a team captain as a senior. As a prep, he attended Philips Exeter Academy. White earned his bachelor’s degree in government in 1990 and a master’s degree in education from Syracuse in 1992.
White joins Bobby Kennedy and Jim Reid as first-year Hawkeye coaches. Kennedy will serve as Iowa’s wide receivers coach, while Reid will work with the Hawkeye defense. Iowa begins spring practice Wednesday, March 27 and concludes spring drills Saturday, April 27.