Michael Vite named Apprentice School Head Football Coach

 Michael Vite, a 27-year coaching veteran having spent the last 14 of those as a defensive coordinator, was named Head Football Coach at The Apprentice School as announced today by Athletic Director Keisha Pexton.

“We are truly excited to have Michael Vite on board as our new Head Football Coach,” said Pexton. “Throughout the selection process, he has displayed a high degree of professionalism and a strong dedicated interest in our student-athletes total apprenticeship experience. We are truly fortunate to have the talent and experience that he will bring to our football program.”

 Vite joins the Builders after spending the last two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. In his first season at Guilford, the defense reduced its points and yards allowed per game by nearly 20 percent from 2005. Last season after losing several key performers to injuries at the start of the year, his defense was in the top two in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in the second half of the season.

“I just want to thank the Apprentice School and in particular Phil Janaro and Keisha Pexton for the opportunity they’re giving me and my family to reach a goal of mine,” said Vite. “I’m looking forward to working with these young men and continuing the foundation Coach Janaro has planted here.”

“I would also like to thank my wife and immediate family for backing me throughout the years to help me reach a dream of mine,” he added.

“Michael Vite has a strong reputation in the coaching business as a solid coach, an energetic recruiter and a quality human being,” said Janaro. “He is well known for caring about his players and getting the most out of them.”

 Vite spent the 2005 season at Morgan State University as the defensive coordinator where two of his players were honored on the second team All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference squad. He held the same role at Bacone College in Oklahoma for the 2004 season where his Warriors ranked 9th in the NAIA in rushing defense and 30th in total defense.

From 2001-03, Vite was the defensive coordinator at Murray State University and helped the Racers to the 2002 Ohio Valley Conference title and a NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth. His defensive unit at Murray State in 2003 was ranked first in pass defense in the OVC, fourth in Division I-AA and in total defense the Racers were ranked 35th nationally.

Prior to that he served the 2000 season at Southern Illinois University as the defensive coordinator where his unit was ranked first in the conference and tenth in Division I-AA after being last in 1999. He served for six seasons prior to Southern Illinois at Southern University in Louisiana. While at Southern the Jaguars won four Southwest Athletic Conference titles and were twice named Black College National Champions (1995,1997). His defensive units were ranked in the top 10 in Division I-AA in all six of his years at Southern. He also coached at Wake Forest University for three seasons working with the secondary and the punt return team. While at Wake, the Deacons won the 1992 Independence Bowl and his punt return team was ranked in the top 20 nationally all three seasons.

A 1981 Hillsdale College graduate, Vite earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and minored in history. The native of Elkhart, Indiana won three football letters as a running back and won the 1980 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a senior. He started coaching at his alma mater in 1981 where Hillsdale advanced to the NAIA semifinals.

Vite and his wife, Sandy, have two children, Jennie, 10, and Michael, 12.