"This wasn’t part of the game plan...."

After a second advanced cancer diagnosis, Coach Mike O’Neill found himself reflecting on how his journey through life and sports had prepared him for the ultimate test and foe—cancer. In his memoir, the beloved Tennessee high school football coach shares the experiences that shaped his approach to life, love, and work. Lessons from the gridiron provided O’Neill a foundation of strength for the unforeseen battles off the field.

From the love story and struggles in building a family with his incredible soulmate, discovering his passion for mentoring youth, enduring the risks and rewards of working his dream job while seeking harmony within his home, to the eventual first cancer diagnosis and seeking treatment, O’Neill embodies how passion, love, determination, and faith have carried him through the tougher plays of his life.

A journey of resilience, faith, and legacy, Don’t Back Down is a playbook of lessons about:

• Considering how you want to be remembered, and the impact you leave behind.
• Discovering and pursuing one’s true passion and calling rather than playing it safe.
• Building fortitude and mental toughness in the face of life’s challenges and adversity.
• Seeking balance and meaning in one’s life—in family, career, and personal fulfillment.
• Remembering how precious life is, and to live in integrity with one’s values.
• Learning when to stick to the game plan and when to trust in God’s greater plan.

This inspiring nonfiction book tells how you cannot control what the game of life throws at you, but you can choose how you show up and face it, regardless of the opportunity or challenge ahead. Mike O’Neill shows that when you bring your “A” game, hold onto hope, and don’t back down, anything is possible.