Mike Gottried (ESPN / Coach)
Bio
College Football Game Analyst/ Founder Team Focus
Mike Gottfried, who spent 12 successful seasons as a head college football coach, is known as one of television’s most respected game analysts. Since 1990, he’s served as an ESPN college football analyst for ESPN’s Saturday Primetime telecasts.
He also worked for the first half season of the Thursday Night Game of the Week, as well as the NFL Draft. Gottfried joined the network in 1990 and provided analysis on late afternoon CFA games for one season.
Gottfried began his coaching career in 1966 as a head coach at Roseville (Ohio) High School. His 12 years of college head coaching experience included stops at Murray State (1978-80), Cincinnati (1981-82), Kansas (1983-85), and Pittsburgh (1986-89). He was also an assistant coach at Arizona, Cincinnati, Morehead State and Youngstown State.
During his four years at Pittsburgh, Gottfried compiled a record of 26-17-2, including two wins each over Notre Dame, Penn State and West Virginia. His total coaching record as a college head football coach is 77-54-6.
Mike wrote the original playbook for the World League’s inaugural season (1991) with Bill Walsh and was the publisher of Mike Gottfried’s Top Recruit Magazine. He has also spoken to coaching staffs including the Dallas Cowboys, University of Texas and North Carolina on teamwork and leadership.
A sought after motivational speaker, Gottfried travels throughout the United States speaking at colleges, high schools and corporations. He also has spearheaded fund-raisers for charitable organizations in Alabama and Ohio. He helped found the GMAC Bowl in 2001.
In 2000, Gottfried founded Team Focus, a comprehensive mentoring program for fatherless boys and young men. His vision and drive for the program is based on his life experiences. Gottfried states:, “Growing up without a father around and knowing what it feels like, I have a desire to provide a place for young men to come and be encouraged, motivated and challenged.” The goal of Team Focus is to provide fatherless young men ages 10 to 18 with leadership skills, guidance, Godly values and a continual relationship with a mentor. Through teamwork with the families, teachers and counselors, Team Focus offers support in a relaxed, cost-free atmosphere.
From 2000 to the present, over 2,500 fatherless young men have been served throughout the United States. Some of the functions of Team Focus include: individual tutoring and mentoring programs; academic support; scholarship opportunities; summer leadership camps; winter and spring Mini-Camps; monthly social activities; and newsletters.
Gottfried graduated from Morehead State (KY) in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in education and in 1973 received his Master’s Degree of Education. He has written two books, “Coach’s Challenge” and “Wisdom from Winners.”
In 2010 Mike was named the Mobilian of the Year by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club for his extraordinary, positive impact on the Mobile community. Mike and his wife, Mickey, were named the recipients of the 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award by the FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Mobile Division for their work with Team Focus.
He and his wife, Mickey, have two children and three grandchildren.