Former Ichabod coaches linemen King helps voters

Former Ichabod coaches linemen

by Nicholas W. Wright & Alyssa Storm

Michael Wilhoite, 2010, has reached another milestone in professional sports by being the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.

After working and waiting for his big break,Wilhoite received the call to play in the United Football League with the Omaha Nighthawks.

That kickstarted his career and led him to signing with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 2011 and 12 weeks later he was an active member of the team.

He went on to play in Super Bowl XLVII on the San Francisco 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. His career took him back to the 49ers in 2016. Then he went up the coast to play for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.

In 2019, Wilhoite became a special teams assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints and stayed for two years. Now he has spent the last two years on the Los Angeles Chargers as a linebackers coach.

Washburn University football head coach Craig Schurig mentions that Wilhoite’s work ethic and drive makes him a special component to any team.

“ I think his true gift is to be a coach. He can pass on his experience, drive and intellegence,” said Schurig.

At this point in his career, Wilhoite says that he has gotten to where he is by simply “progressing as a man. It doesn’t have anything to do with having a degree. It is the maturation of myself and of the people that God has placed around me that has influenced me to start reading, and speaking the right way, and dressing the right way,” said Wilhoite.

Wilhoite has spread his knowledge and love of football not only along the chargers, but has also reached the Highland Park community in Topeka.

He has put on a camp in the Highland Park community as well as given back to Manhattan, where he is originally from.

“More than anything, I think he’s a kind of a role model,” said Schurig.

As Schurig said, we are proud to have Wilhoite be a Washburn graduate and his acccomplishments on and off the field.

Even after being on some of the biggest stages in the world Wilhoite says that he stays close with the same people he knew before his career.

He says that two focuses that influence his success are “always being present, and being myself.”

photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Chargers Michael Wilhoite, 2010, is the linebacker coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. He played football for Washburn University while earning his mass media degree.