HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Mitchell Steps Down as Bearcat Boss

By Tim Hayes
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 12, 2008

BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
After five successful seasons as the head boys’ basketball coach at Virginia High, Doug Mitchell’s tenure on the Bearcats’ bench has come to an end.

Mitchell stepped down earlier this week after compiling a 62-56 record in his stint at VHS. He directed his team to the Highlands District title in 2007 and the regional semifinals twice.

Mitchell will serve as a principal in the Elizabethton City school system this fall.
“I did make the decision with a lot of personal and professional consideration towards my future,” Mitchell said. “It wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve had some really good kids at Virginia High and the group next year will be a great group. That’s always the toughest part when you switch from coaching to administration.”

Mitchell’s best season came in 2007 as the Bearcats compiled 17 wins in their final season as a Group AA school. The team advanced to the semifinals of the Region IV tournament and lost a close contest to Martinsville.

This year, his team once again came within a game of the state tournament, but dropped a decision to Castlewood in the Region D semifinals.

“I really enjoyed the last five years,” Mitchell said. “I feel like we had some of the best young men in Southwest Virginia playing basketball at Virginia High School. I really enjoyed them … The last three years have been gratifying with the success we’ve had on the court and the quality of these young men and their actions and behaviors off the court.”

Mitchell’s last season was also memorable as VHS exceeded expectations and compiled a 15-11 record in the Clinch Mountain District.

“I really thought our kids stepped up,” Mitchell said. “We lost six players from the year before and bounced back this year to have the kind of competitive season we had. They represented the team concept as well as any team I’ve had in 20 years. It’s a quality group of young men, and I’m going to miss them tremendously.”

There are some things that Mitchell will not miss and that negatively affected his decision. Among them was the fact he went through 11 assistant coaches in five years as the position was never stabilized by the school. In fact, Mitchell said he was disappointed about the commitment to the boys hoops program as a whole. 

Mitchell now looks to his future as an administrator and the chance to spend more time with his family.

He spent 20 years in the coaching profession and had head coaching stints at John Battle and Sullivan South before landing at VHS. He led Battle to the best season in school history in 1998 as the Trojans finished as VHSL Group A state runner-up.

Mitchell is the third high profile coach to resign from their head coaching positions since March. Al Copenhaver (George Wythe) and Aaron Williams (Castlewood) also stepped away from the sidelines.
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