Oregon - - Mike White leaving Oregon Ducks softball program for Texas
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After leading Oregon Ducks softball to five Women's College World Series appearances and unprecedented success in the program's history, Mike White is leaving UO to coach the Texas Longhorns.
"It came down to the ability to get some financial security for my family," White said in a phone interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive. "An opportunity like this comes along once in 10, 15, 20 years. I think it's a good time, it's a good fit and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead of me."
Oregon had little softball success before White's hiring nine seasons ago but once in the job, he did everything short of win a national title.
"It really is difficult to leave without having won one," he said.
Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement that UO will "find a leader who will build upon the strong foundation already in place for our program."
In nine seasons under White, Oregon compiled a 435-111-1 record and never lost in the NCAA tournament's regional round en route to nine consecutive super regional appearances. The Ducks also earned a No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2014 and twice were named the top overall seed in an NCAA tournament. Behind a program record-tying four All-Americans, UO was 53-10 in 2018.
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte called White a "grinder" who praised his transformation of UO's program.
"He's been there nine years and been to WCWS five of eight years," Del Conte said, according to the Austin American Statesman . "They were perennially dead last when he got there. They were god awful."
White leaves three seasons after Oregon razed its outdated facility and opened $17 million Jane Sanders Stadium , one of the country's top softball facilities that is connected to a player development center with indoor hitting cages, office space and locker rooms. Before the stadium's primary donor was announced, White was vocal about needing a better facility to compete for national titles. He also pushed for higher salaries to retain his assistants, and after receiving interest from Arkansas in 2015 received a six-year deal worth $1.4 million in guaranteed salary.
White declined to specify what Texas will pay him but called the decision to leave "tremendously difficult."
"It really kind of tore me apart a little bit," White told The Oregonian/OregonLive. "I really love Oregon. A piece of me will always be here."
Texas first contacted him less than a week ago, White said, after it had wrapped its hiring of a track and field coach. From there, he said he was sold on the Longhorns' financial commitment to softball, including a player development center that will break ground next summer and be "eye-catching" when it opens, White said.
"They are going to invest quite a bit of money in a player development area," he said. "Their facilities are just incredible. It kind of blew me away a little bit."
With UO players off campus due to summer break, White was continuing to inform UO players about his decision via text message and email. Just days before White left, assistant Jimmy Kolaitis was named the head coach at Alabama-Birmingham, leaving assistant Chelsea Spencer as interim head coach, according to UO's Mullens.
"I couldn't have done what I've done without (the players), the commitment, the support of the donors and boosters and athletic department that built Jane Sanders Stadium," White said.
Connie Clark stepped down as Texas coach in late May after 23 seasons -- the only coach to guide the program in school history. The Longhorns played in five Women's College World Series in that span but hadn't advanced to Oklahoma City since 2013. Texas ended its most recent season with a 33-26 record after losing in the NCAA tournament's Seattle Regional.
White's decision was first reported by The Register-Guard.
-- Andrew Greif
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