Q1: Who is the most influential coach you’ve had as an athlete? Why?

A: I had a high school hockey coach in Arizona named Joe Dusababek. He was a younger guy, probably in his mid 30’s. He was an assistant when I first started playing on the varsity team my freshman year but took over as the head coach for my sophomore season. Joe also played hockey at the University of Notre Dame in the late 90’s and played some semi-professional hockey in his time. He was a demanding coach who expected his team to play just as hard as he coached. He and I did not always see eye to eye, but I respected him greatly because I knew he wanted what was best for me and for our team. The largest impact Joe had on me was molding me into a leader. He challenged me a lot, which forced me to adapt. He always said things to our team like “this is your team, and you will determine how successful you will be.” When I was named captain of our team as a senior, two thirds of our team were underclassmen with most of them being freshmen. It was a tough task to lead a group like that as a senior, when my experiences and their lack thereof were so different. However, Joe continued to have my back and challenged me to lead our team, which I’d like to believe I did well. Joe helped shape me into a man that does not easily waver when he is challenged, but instead accepts it and puts in the work to figure out how to be successful.

 

Q2: Who is your favorite coach here at Michigan and why?

A: We had a strength coach who was fired with our previous strength staff this past season by the name of Mark Naylor. He was a yeller, maybe more of a screamer. He used a lot of intimidation tactics to motivate players as they trained. Walking on to the team and coming in knowing I was not very high on the totem pole, I was afraid of him. He was the type of guy whose respect was tough to earn. One moment I’ll never forget is when we were in Florida for practice during spring break for my first spring ball. I had had shoulder dislocation problems in high school, and I was trying to mask them so as to avoid surgery. In our 3rd spring ball practice, my 3rd ever as a Michigan football player, I dislocated my shoulder. As I was walking off the field I was able to pop it back in myself and went back behind the huddle in an attempt to check back in. Although I was spotted by trainers and pulled from practice, Coach Naylor had seen it and came up to me the next day. He ask “Are you Brendan White,” to which I replied “yes sir.” He replied “Was that you that popped your shoulder in at practice the other day? That was some good shit” and he shook my hand. It was at that point that I felt I had earned his respect and realized that his scare tactics were not for show, but that he actually had my best interest in mind. From then on, he challenged me physically, but more important mentally. The training we go through is as much of a mind game as it is a physical test. He put me through workouts I never believed I could do and made me expand my ability to be mentally tough. I use my mental strength every day in school and beyond.  He forced me to believe in myself to be successful.

 

Q3: What are some attributes that you’ve noticed during your time on the team here and during your high school days that you would say are essential to be an effective, motivating coach?

A: You have to have the respect of your team. Your team has to believe that you know what you’re talking about and that you have their back. This can take the shape of my hockey coach Joe, who cussed out a referee because of a penalty called on me. Coach Harbaugh does the same. It’s no secret why his teams play so hard for him and why I played so hard for Joe. It’s because I knew he was doing the same for me. Great coaches have the ability to control their team without having to use force or threats. Great teams have cohesion because they follow one authority that they may not always agree with, but that they respect.  

 

Q4: Post-graduation, do you have any desires to stay with the team as a graduate assistant? If not, what are your career aspirations?

A: A graduate assistant coach is a career path, but I see myself utilizing my degree and pursuing a career in mechanical engineering. I want to design medical devices and hopefully get into management at some point. There I would be leading a different type of team, but all of the principles of leadership and teamwork are the same. I believe however, as an athlete, that I have a step up in experience in working as a team. I would like to give back to football by coaching high school football on the side, but this would probably only be part time.

 

Q5: Have your coaches influenced your post-grad plans? How so?

A: Not really. I realized that college coaching might be a little too much of a time commitment for me and my career goals. Football and our coaches have given access to a vast network of former players and industry executives who have ties to Michigan Football. So in that way I guess they’ve given me a head start on my career.

 

Q6: Looking at the guys who have graduated in your time with the team, what would you say is the most common career path post-grad?

A: Other than the NFL I would say sales in some capacity. We have an alumni networking event and a lot of guys are salesman. Athletes make good salesman because it is so competitive and performance based which is just like what we go through on an everyday basis.

 

Q7: Do you envision yourself coaching at any level in the future whether it be little league or high school teams? If so, would it be out of desire or necessity?

A:Yes I would coach high school out of desire because I believe in giving back. I have so much knowledge that I’ve gained that I feel inclined to give back.

 

Q8: Obviously their on-field instruction is second to none, but in what ways have your coaches assisted you off of the field? Have they been helpful?

A: Coach Harbaugh takes great pride in “putting the student back in student athlete.” He goes through great lengths to help his players develop as men. He does a lot for us professionally, like setting up tonight’s Football Networking event. He has also recommended me to a top industry executive for an internship this summer.

 

Q9: Obviously it varies from coach to coach, but how would you describe your relationship with most coaches on the team this year?

A:I would like to think that the coaches have respect for me as I do for them. I’m friendly with most of them despite what goes on between the lines on the football field.

 

Q10: Has there been a noticeable change in coaching style moving from youth league football to high school and then to the collegiate level? If so, could you describe it?

A: The coaching obviously becomes much more aggressive as you get older. Coaches are more inclined to scream and yell. The coaching also goes a lot more in depth. There is a lot more thinking that goes into the game now as compared to when I was in high school. The base principles of motivation and teaching are the same more or less. I would just say the delivery is different.

 

Q11: Which coaching style do you prefer and why? Do you think that in general, this style is the most effective for most athletes in your position?

A: I prefer a hard coaching style. Although I may not agree with it at the time, it is difficult to be successful when you are complacent. All of the best coaches I’ve had over the years were all yellers. They all demanded a lot of their team and helped their team reach their potential.  I think coaches that are too nice sometimes cause their team to get complacent, and that is when you lose.

 

Q12: As a receiver, I’m sure that you’ve seen that Michigan hired Jim McElwain as the new receivers’ coach. What are your thoughts on both him and the hire?

A: I met him a few days ago and he seemed like a pretty good guy. It’s too early to tell though because everybody is a different person when the bullets start flying on the practice and game field.  He is obviously very qualified so I guess we will have to see. I’m excited to get to work.