Entering his second season as Head Football Coach at The ApprenticeSchool, Michael Vite is ready to help lead the Builders back to theheights of earlier this decade with winning seasons and stellardefense.
Vite joins the Builders after spending two seasons as assistanthead coach and defensive coordinator at Guilford College inGreensboro, N.C. In his first season at Guilford, the defensereduced its points and yards allowed per game by nearly 20 percentfrom 2005. In 2007, after losing several key performers toinjuries at the start of the year, his defense was in the top twoin the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in the second half of theseason.
His first season as head coach saw the defense of Buildersimprove by allowing 15 fewer yards per game against a schedule thatsaw three nationally-ranked opponents.
"I just want to thank The Apprentice School and in particularPhil Janaro and Keisha Pexton for the opportunity they're giving meand my family to reach a goal of mine," said Vite. "I'mlooking forward to working with these young men and continuing thefoundation Coach Janaro has planted here."
"I would also like to thank my wife and immediate family forbacking 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 asolid coach, an energetic recruiter and a quality human being,"said Janaro. "He is well known for caring about his playersand getting the most out of them."
Vite spent the 2005 season at Morgan State University as thedefensive coordinator where two of his players were honored on thesecond team All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference squad. Heheld the same role at Bacone College in Oklahoma for the 2004season where his Warriors ranked 9th in the NAIA inrushing defense and 30th in total defense.
From 2001-03, Vite was the defensive coordinator at Murray StateUniversity and helped the Racers to the 2002 Ohio Valley Conferencetitle and a NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth. His defensiveunit at Murray State in 2003 was ranked first in pass defense inthe OVC, fourth in Division I-AA and in total defense the Racerswere ranked 35th nationally.
Prior to that he served the 2000 season at Southern IllinoisUniversity as the defensive coordinator where his unit was rankedfirst in the conference and tenth in Division I-AA after being lastin 1999. He served for six seasons prior to Southern Illinoisat Southern University in Louisiana. While at Southern theJaguars won four Southwest Athletic Conference titles and weretwice named Black College National Champions (1995,1997). Hisdefensive units were ranked in the top 10 in Division I-AA in allsix of his years at Southern. He also coached at Wake ForestUniversity for three seasons working with the secondary and thepunt return team. While at Wake, the Deacons won the 1992Independence Bowl and his punt return team was ranked in the top 20nationally all three seasons.
A 1981 Hillsdale College graduate, Vite earned his bachelor'sdegree in health and physical education and minored inhistory. The native of Elkhart, In. won three footballletters as a running back and won the 1980 Great LakesIntercollegiate Athletic Conference as a senior. He startedcoaching at his alma mater in 1981 where Hillsdale advanced to theNAIA semifinals.
Vite and his wife, Sandy, have two children, Jennie, 11, andMichael, 13.
