CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois assistant running backs coach James White has accepted the head coaching position at Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois, it was announced Thursday. White will continue his work at Illinois through the end of the 2025 season.
"James is an impressive individual both on and off the football field," said Illinois head coach Bret Bielema. "Since first recruiting him out of St. Thomas Aquinas, I have seen him grow as an outstanding player and now coach. 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."
"I want to give a huge thank you to Coach Bielema for giving me the opportunity to join his staff to learn and grow as a coach," said White. "I'm excited for the future and can't wait to build relationships within the Benet Community."
White, who played for Illinois head coach Bret Bielema at Wisconsin, entered the coaching profession following an eight-year NFL playing career with the New England Patriots. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Big Ten champion running back during his playing career.
White starred for Bielema's Wisconsin teams from 2010-13, helping the Badgers to three Big Ten titles and three trips to the Rose Bowl. He was named the 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and ran for 4,015 yards and scored 48 touchdowns during his Wisconsin career, ranking fourth in school history in rushing yards and third in total touchdowns. White ran for over 100 yards on 18 occasions despite sharing the backfield with a loaded Wisconsin running back room throughout his career, including John Clay, Montee Ball, and Melvin Gordon. As a senior in 2013, White combined with Gordon (1,609) to set the FBS single-season record for rushing yards by teammates at 3,053 yards.
Following a career-high 1,444 rushing yards as a senior, White was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. White played in 95 NFL games and ran for 3,278 yards and scored 25 touchdowns, helping the Patriots to six division titles and three Super Bowl championships.
One of White's best games of his NFL career came in New England's historic Super Bowl LI win when the Patriots trailed Atlanta, 28-3, and came back to win, 34-28, in overtime. White accounted for 139 total yards, including a Super Bowl-record 14 receptions for 110 receiving yards, and scored three touchdowns. His 1-yard touchdown run with 0:57 left in regulation helped the Patriots tie the game before his 2-yard run in overtime was the game-winner.
White is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and played high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the top prep programs in the nation.
