DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY
montcnews2@windstream.net
MOUNT IDA – Mount Ida honored one of her favorite sons Friday night with a halftime dedication at the senior high football game against Jessieville.
Mount Ida dedicated the field house as the Mike White Field House in honor of former head football coach Mike White. Mark Davis emceed the halftime festivities which he opened with a moment of silence for Mike’s father, Earl Gene White. Davis followed with a recap of Mike’s coaching career.
Mike took the Mount Ida Lions to three 2A State Championship Games, winning two in 2007 and 2016. This included back to back trips to “The Rock” in 2016 and 2017.
In 14 years as head coach of the Mount Ida Lions Football team White amassed a record of 125-46. He led the Mount Ida Lions to seven conference championships in both the 5-2A and 7-2A Conferences.
Mike first joined Mount Ida as an assistant football and head baseball coach before getting the head football coaching job. He continued to coach the baseball team for several years as well.
A home town boy, Mike has witnessed Mount Ida Lion football from every aspect. From a fan as a child to a player in high school, Mike and his brother David White were key parts of the Mount Ida Lion success in the 1990s under Coach Preston Stidman. He made the transition to college as a baseball player at the College of the Ozarks. He was joined by his brother David there as well.
After one year as a basketball coach at St. Paul High School he returned home as a coach. Mike stepped down as coach earlier this year to fill the role as superintendent at Mount Ida, completing the cycle as an administrator and a fan once again. He is also a parent who has watched one athlete, Cade Jackson follow in his footsteps while his son Jackson is currently making his way through the pee-wee ranks.
Three of Mike’s players shared how he impacted their lives as both football players and young men. Josh Baker represented the members of the 2007 state championship team. Baker was the MVP of the championship game and now serves as a school resource officer at Mount Ida School District.
TJ Wilson spoke about how Mike’s influence helped him decide to become a coach himself. Wilson is currently in his final year at Arkansas Tech and stated he hopes to follow Coach White’s footsteps as a coach at Mount Ida some day.
Caleb Woodfield, who was a member of both the 2016 and 2017 teams who made back to back trips to state championship games, was the last player to speak. He thanked Coach White for his leadership and guidance. Woodfield is currently a member of the Ouachita Baptist University football team and is working toward a degree in coaching.
The last person to speak was Coach Preston Stidman. Coach Stidman has been a staple of the sideline throughout Mike’s career at Mount Ida and was also Mike’s coach in high school. Stidman stated that Mike was the best man he knew.
Mike was presented with a plaque for the field house and one for his office.
The festivities concluded with a ribbon cutting to dedicate the newly named field house and the singing of the school alma mater.
The event was arranged by the Mount Ida Booster Club. They would like to thank everyone who worked to help the special night so special.
