Former Raider Takes Volunteer Post at Westlake

From the National Football League to the Marmonte League. That’s the turn Odis McKinney’s coaching career has taken.

The former Raider defensive back and assistant coach has taken a non-paying position as an assistant at Westlake High.

“I’ve always wanted to work with kids,” McKinney said. “Pro football is such a business. The last couple of years were no fun.”

McKinney joined the Warriors’ staff last Thursday for the beginning of spring football practice.

To say that Westlake players and coaches are thrilled to have a coach with McKinney’s credentials is a sizable understatement.

“It’s really exciting to have him because he has so much knowledge of the game,” said Tim Bogle, a defensive back. “And he’s still really quick. I was amazed at how quick he is. He demonstrated a drill for us and we thought, ‘Geez, we don’t know if we can do this!’ ”

McKinney, 38, a veteran of eight NFL seasons, spent the past five years coaching Raiders defensive backs under Art Shell.

When Shell was fired as head coach at the end of last season McKinney was also released.

But he missed coaching and mentioned it to his insurance agent, Robert Fox, while Fox was at McKinney’s Woodland Hills home assessing earthquake damage caused by last year’s Northridge temblor.

Fox is a good friend of Westlake Coach Jim Benkert.

Benkert and McKinney have roots in the San Fernando Valley. Benkert played football at El Camino Real High and Pierce College; McKinney at Reseda High and Valley College.

“Robert told Odis to call me and we talked for about an hour about old times,” Benkert said. “Then I told him that one of my greatest wishes is that he would come out and help and he said he would do it.

“He’s a great role model for the kids and he has a great excitement for the game. The type of influence he can have on our players is great.”

A 1974 graduate of Reseda High, McKinney competed on the Regents’ football and track teams. At Valley, he was a two-time junior college All-American. He went on to Colorado, where he twice made All-Big Eight Conference.

McKinney was the New York Giants’ second-round draft choice in 1978. The Giants traded him to the Raiders in 1980.

After being released by the Raiders at the start of 1985, McKinney played half a season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders signed him as a free agent for ‘86--his final season as a pro.

McKinney was a fifth defensive back and special teams player for most of his career with the Raiders. He played in two Super Bowls and was described by former Coach Tom Flores as an exemplary Raider with class, poise and toughness.

“Odis is definitely a big asset to our staff,” said Bill Culpepper, a seventh-year Westlake assistant. “He’s a quality guy and an excellent coach.”

Because his home is still being repaired, McKinney lives in El Segundo with his wife and seven-month-old son.

He hasn’t ruled out another pro coaching job, but McKinney says spending time with his son is his top priority.

McKinney is also having a great time at Westlake.

“I’m having a lot of fun doing this,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s great.”