Benet athletic director Scott Lawler was in the advanced stages of his search for a new football coach to replace the retiring Pat New when he received two unsolicited messages.
“I had somebody that I know send me something and somebody that emailed me out of the blue, both on the same day, asking me if I would accept one more resume,” Lawler said.
The resume belonged to former NFL running back James White, who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and is an assistant running backs coach at Illinois.
That got Lawler’s attention. White then earned Lawler’s respect during the ensuing interview and got the job.
“I was trying to figure out how serious he was, especially with his background,” Lawler said. “His family lives in the suburbs, and he’s been traveling to Champaign and even staying down there for days at a time.
“He’s always wanted to coach high school football, and it means a lot for him to raise his family. As a former college coach myself, I know what it’s like to try to raise a family at the college level. It’s hard because you’re on the road a lot.”
White, 33, played at Wisconsin for current Illinois coach Bret Bielema. During an eight-year career with the Patriots, he ran for 1,278 yards and 25 touchdowns and made 381 catches for 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns in 95 regular-season games.
White began his coaching career at Northern Illinois in 2024 and then joined Illinois, where he will stay for the remainder of this season.
“I would like to say thank you to (Benet president) Bill Myers and Scott Lawler for giving me this opportunity,” White said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity, and I will give you all my very best. I can’t wait to get started and build relationships within the Benet community.”
White came highly recommended from people close to Lawler and Benet, including former basketball star Frank Kaminsky, who attended Wisconsin with White. Kaminsky and White were inducted into Wisconsin’s Athletic Hall of Fame in September.
Bielema also extolled White.
“James is an impressive individual both on and off the football field,” Bielema said in a statement. “Benet Academy is getting a proven leader that will make a positive impact in the lives of their young men. I am excited to see the success he has as a high school coach in the state of Illinois.”
Such praise is not what got White across the goal line for the Benet job.
“James told me in our interview, ‘I feel a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into my career to help me achieve my goals, so it’s time for me to help other people achieve theirs,’” Lawler said. “When he said that, I said, ‘You’re my head coach.’”
The hiring of White has energized the school, according to Lawler.
“The excitement is through the roof,” Lawler said. “University of Illinois I thought was first class in writing an article about him and having it on their athletic site, and coach Bielema allowing the time for me and him to talk, but also celebrating him, was unbelievable.
“I said to James, ‘The way they wrote it, it sounded like you got the LSU job. You definitely didn’t get the LSU job.’”
White got the job previously held by New, who retired after a 16-year stint with a 92-67 record. The Redwings made the playoffs 10 times under New, including appearances in state semifinals in 2012, 2016 and 2017.
New, who will continue teaching social studies at Benet, does not know White but is enthusiastic about the hire.
“When I heard, I was like, ‘Wow, that is a great catch,’” New said. “It’s as big a name as we could have found, I think.
“It’s really exciting for our players. One of our guys is a die-hard Patriots fan, so when I saw him in the hallway, I said, ‘You’ve got to be loving this.’ He remembers him playing, so he’s really excited.”
Lawler’s brother Todd, who was Benet’s running backs coach this season, will serve as interim head coach until White finishes his duties at Illinois and will help in the transition.
Lawler said he is confident White will build upon New’s accomplishments.
“In a faithful way, I would say it was the Holy Spirit working,” Lawler said. “I say that because of the whole timing of things.
“We’re celebrating Pat New because I think he did an unbelievable job really resurrecting the program, and I think James is going to take us to a different level now.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
