Former NFL star James White to be Benet’s football coach

Benet athletic director Scott Lawler was in the final stages of searching for a new football coach to replace retiring Pat New when he received two unsolicited messages.

“Someone I knew sent me something and someone emailed me out of the blue, both on the same day, asking if I would accept another 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.

This caught 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 given his background,” Lawler said. “His family lives in the suburbs, and he traveled to Champaign and even stayed there for several days.

“He's always wanted to coach high school football, and raising his family means a lot to him. As a former college coach, 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 under current Illinois coach Bret Bielema. During his eight-year career with the Patriots, he rushed for 1,278 yards and 25 touchdowns and had 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 transferred to Illinois, where he will remain through the end of this season.

“I would like to thank (Benet President) Bill Myers and Scott Lawler for giving me this opportunity,” White said in a statement. “This is an amazing opportunity and I will bring my best to you. I can't wait to get started and build relationships within the Benet community.”

White came highly recommended by people close to Lawler and Benet, including former basketball star Frank Kaminsky, who attended Wisconsin with White. Kaminsky and White were inducted into the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame in September.

Bielema also praised White.

“James is an impressive individual both on and off the football field,” Bielema said in a statement. “Benet Academy is gaining a proven leader who will make a positive impact on the lives of his young men. I am excited to see the success he has achieved as a high school coach in the state of Illinois.”

It wasn't the same kind of praise that helped White cross the goal line in Benet's post.

“James told me in our interview, 'I feel like a lot of people are putting a lot of time and effort into my career to help me achieve my goals, so it's time to help other people achieve theirs,'” Lawler said. “When he said that, I said, 'You're my head coach.'

Lawler said White's arrival has energized the school.

“The excitement is through the roof,” Lawler said. “I think the University of Illinois was first class in writing an article about him and putting it on their sports website, and Coach Bielema giving me and him time to talk and also putting him on the map, it was incredible.

“I told James, ‘The way they wrote it, it made it look like you got the job at LSU. You definitely didn't get the job at LSU.”

White took over the job previously held by New, who retired after 16 years with a 92-67 record. The Redwings have made the playoffs 10 times under New, including state semifinal appearances in 2012, 2016 and 2017.

New, who will continue to teach social studies at Benet, is unfamiliar with White but is enthusiastic about the move.

“When I heard about it, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a great catch,’” New said. “I think this is the biggest name we could find.

“It's very 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 must love 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 completes his duties at Illinois and will assist in the transition.

Lawler said he is confident White will build on New's accomplishments.

“To be honest, I would say it was the Holy Spirit moving,” Lawler said. “I say this because of the timing of what is happening.

“We're honoring Pat New because I think he's done an incredible job of really revitalizing the program, and I think James is going to take us to another level now.”

Matt Le Crain is a freelance reporter.