DSF: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
MB: I was born in Sacramento, CA and grew up in Lincoln, CA. My family lived in a variety of places. I went to high school in Concord, CA and enrolled for college at UC-Davis.
DSF: Why UC-Davis?
MB: I was going to enroll at UC-Berkeley, but the riots were happening in ’69. I drove by Davis; I liked the campus, and thought I could play football there. So I enrolled in the fall of 1969 and studied Physical Education.
DSF: How was your experience at UC-Davis?
MB: It was great! I played freshman and varsity football. While on the team, I met Tom O’Grady (UC-Davis ‘68) who encouraged me to join Delta Sig during the Spring quarter of my freshman year.
DSF: Talk about your Delta Sig undergraduate days.
MB: My experience as an undergrad was awesome. I really liked the guys that were in the chapter. My big brother was Mike Biondi (UC-Davis ‘68). For two and a half years, I lived in the house and really enjoyed the camaraderie. Living with a bunch of guys who are different than me helped me learn about myself and working with others.
DSF: Did you hold any leadership positions?
MB: I may have been treasurer or vice president of my pledge class, but I am not and was not a political person.
DSF: When did you graduate from UC-Davis?
MB: I graduated in 1973, but spent another year at Davis earning my teacher’s credential. After 1974, I was offered a full-time job teaching at Woodland High School coaching high school basketball and track while continuing to coach JV football and JV baseball at U.C. Davis. In 1977, I was recruited by CSU-Hayward (now CSU-East Bay) as their Offensive Coordinator. While there, I served as Faculty Advisor to the Zeta Omicron Chapter. Following my experience at CSU-Hayward, I went to Weber State University in 1979, but was only there for a short time before returning to CSU-Hayward in 1980. It was there I coached and finished my Master’s of Science in Physical Education. My first head coaching position was at Chico State University from 1984-1988, and I was also the Faculty Advisor for the Delta Alpha Chapter. In 1989, the University of Oregon recruited me to join their staff as Offensive Coordinator, and in 1995, I was appointed Head Coach.
DSF: How has your experience at Oregon been?
MB: Incredible. The school is fantastic, students are great, and our staff is really good. I couldn’t ask for a better job.
DSF: What was your most fond memory as an undergraduate?
MB: There were many good memories. A few are playing bridge at the house on the back lawn in the afternoons, playing intramural basketball, freshman pledge class scavenger hunt, all the Carnation Balls. Most important to me were the friendships I started as an undergrad and still maintain today. There are about five to ten guys from the chapter that I am still very close with. They come to a few football games every year, and it’s great to have good friends over such a long period of time.
DSF: Who has been most influential in your life?
MB: There have been several influential Delta Sig chapter brothers – Tom O’Grady, Bruce Groefsema, Don Hayashida, Mike Beaver, Lou Tylee, and Al Acord.
DSF: What advice do you have for Delta Sig undergraduates?
MB: Make sure you utilize your college experience to the utmost ability. Meet your immediate career goals. Take advantage of the social development opportunities Delta Sig provides. You can really begin to develop as a young man after you join Delta Sig.
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