Football
Chris White
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Email:
- nathan.dellinger@mso.umt.edu
- Phone:
- 243-2969
Chris White was hired as Montana’s special team’s coordinator in July of 2026. He came to Missoula with 30-plus years coaching at the game’s highest levels, including 19 seasons coaching special teams in the Big Ten, ACC, and NFL, among other stops.
Prior to arriving in Missoula, White spent three seasons as the special teams coordinator at the University of Memphis where he helped the Tigers advance to three consecutive bowl games under coach Ryan Silverfield.
During his tenure the Tigers went 29-10, including a 42-37 win over West Virginia in the 2024 Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl and a 36-26 win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl over Iowa State in 2023. In that stretch Memphis posted back-to-back 10-wins seasons, just the fifth and sixth in program history. There his special teams were paced by Sutton Smith, the 2024 College Football Network Preseason AAC Kick Returner of the Year who was ranked 18th in the NCAA in kickoff returns (24.2) the year prior.
At the University of Buffalo in 2022, White helped kicker Alex McNulty win MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors, as well first-team all-conference accolades. McNulty was the first UB player to ever earn the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year award. On the season, McNulty finished third in the nation in field goals per game (1.85) and 18th in scoring (8.7). He led the MAC in both categories as well and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
In his first season with the Bulls in 2021, White coached returner Ron Cook who was named to the All-MAC Third Team and averaged 21 yards per return. Kicker Alex McNulty finished the season strong making 8 of his final 10 kicks of the season, including a 50 and school-record 55-yarder. McNulty also made all 37 PAT attempts on the season.
White coached at Buffalo for two seasons after serving as analyst under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan in 2020.
Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, White spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions. He spent the 2017 season as an assistant at the University of Connecticut.
White went to UConn from the University of Iowa where he was the special teams coordinator and running backs coach for four seasons under Kirk Ferentz. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, White helped the team to four bowl appearances, including a berth in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Prior to his stint in Iowa City, White was an assistant special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2009-12. He helped the Vikings win the 2009 NFC North Division Championship and Minnesota also earned a berth in a 2012 Wild Card game.
From 2000-08 he served in several capacities at Syracuse. He was the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2000-03, the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach from 2003-04 and the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2005-08. The Orange defeated Kansas State in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl and won the Big East Championship in 2004.
The Groveland, MA native also spent time on staff at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, special teams coordinator) from 1999-00 and at UNLV (special teams coordinator, inside linebackers coach) from 1996-98.
A 1990 graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, White was a four-year starter for the football and baseball teams and went on to earn his master's degree in education from Syracuse in 1992.
After receiving his master's degree, White served as a graduate assistant/quarterbacks coach at Arkansas State from 1992-93 and as the quarterbacks coach for Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. from 1993-94.
From 1994-96, White was the head football coach at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nev.
White has two daughters, Payton and Riley.
The White File
Hometown: Groveland, Mass.
Alma Mater: Colby College ’90 (BA Government), Syracuse ’92 (MA Education)
Playing Experience: Colby College – Four-year starter in football and baseball (’87-’90)
Family: Daughters Payton and Riley
Coaching Experience
Postseason Coaching Experience
Prior to arriving in Missoula, White spent three seasons as the special teams coordinator at the University of Memphis where he helped the Tigers advance to three consecutive bowl games under coach Ryan Silverfield.
During his tenure the Tigers went 29-10, including a 42-37 win over West Virginia in the 2024 Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl and a 36-26 win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl over Iowa State in 2023. In that stretch Memphis posted back-to-back 10-wins seasons, just the fifth and sixth in program history. There his special teams were paced by Sutton Smith, the 2024 College Football Network Preseason AAC Kick Returner of the Year who was ranked 18th in the NCAA in kickoff returns (24.2) the year prior.
At the University of Buffalo in 2022, White helped kicker Alex McNulty win MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors, as well first-team all-conference accolades. McNulty was the first UB player to ever earn the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year award. On the season, McNulty finished third in the nation in field goals per game (1.85) and 18th in scoring (8.7). He led the MAC in both categories as well and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
In his first season with the Bulls in 2021, White coached returner Ron Cook who was named to the All-MAC Third Team and averaged 21 yards per return. Kicker Alex McNulty finished the season strong making 8 of his final 10 kicks of the season, including a 50 and school-record 55-yarder. McNulty also made all 37 PAT attempts on the season.
White coached at Buffalo for two seasons after serving as analyst under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan in 2020.
Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, White spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions. He spent the 2017 season as an assistant at the University of Connecticut.
White went to UConn from the University of Iowa where he was the special teams coordinator and running backs coach for four seasons under Kirk Ferentz. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, White helped the team to four bowl appearances, including a berth in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Prior to his stint in Iowa City, White was an assistant special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2009-12. He helped the Vikings win the 2009 NFC North Division Championship and Minnesota also earned a berth in a 2012 Wild Card game.
From 2000-08 he served in several capacities at Syracuse. He was the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2000-03, the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach from 2003-04 and the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2005-08. The Orange defeated Kansas State in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl and won the Big East Championship in 2004.
The Groveland, MA native also spent time on staff at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, special teams coordinator) from 1999-00 and at UNLV (special teams coordinator, inside linebackers coach) from 1996-98.
A 1990 graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, White was a four-year starter for the football and baseball teams and went on to earn his master's degree in education from Syracuse in 1992.
After receiving his master's degree, White served as a graduate assistant/quarterbacks coach at Arkansas State from 1992-93 and as the quarterbacks coach for Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. from 1993-94.
From 1994-96, White was the head football coach at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nev.
White has two daughters, Payton and Riley.
The White File
Hometown: Groveland, Mass.
Alma Mater: Colby College ’90 (BA Government), Syracuse ’92 (MA Education)
Playing Experience: Colby College – Four-year starter in football and baseball (’87-’90)
Family: Daughters Payton and Riley
Coaching Experience
| 1992-93 | Arkansas State | GA, Quarterbacks |
| 1993-94 | Holy Cross | Quarterbacks |
| 1994-96 | Bishop Manogue (NV) High School | Head Coach |
| 1996-98 | UNLV | Special Teams Coord., Inside Linebackers |
| 1999-00 | Cal Poly | Defensive Coord., Linebackers, Special Teams Coord. |
| 2000-03 | Syracuse | Special Teams Coord., Tight Ends |
| 2003-04 | Syracuse | Recruiting Coord., Tight Ends |
| 2005-08 | Syracuse | Recruiting Coord., Wide Receivers |
| 2009-12 | Minnesota Vikings | Assistant Special Teams |
| 2013-16 | Iowa | Special Teams Coord., Running Backs |
| 2017 | Connecticut | Special Teams Coord. |
| 2018-19 | Detroit Lions | Tight Ends |
| 2020 | Michigan | Analyst |
| 2021-22 | Buffalo | Special Teams Coord. |
| 2023-25 | Memphis | Special Teams Coord. |
| 2026-Pres. | Montana | Special Teams Coord. |
Postseason Coaching Experience
| 2001 | Insight.com Bowl |
| 2004 | Champs Sports Bowl |
| 2009 | NFC North Championship |
| 2012 | NFC Wild Card Game |
| 2013 | Outback Bowl |
| 2014 | TaxSlayer Bowl |
| 2015 | Rose Bowl |
| 2016 | Outback Bowl |
| 2022 | Camellia Bowl |
| 2023 | AutoZone Liberty Bowl |
| 2024 | Frisco Bowl |
| 2025 | Gasparilla Bowl |
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 04
Friday, May 01
Monday, March 30
