I lived it. Now I teach it.
Coach Mitchell's journey was anything but a straight line. Growing up in Moreno Valley, California, he began his college career at an NAIA program, but after getting into trouble, he was forced to leave and essentially start over.
That setback led him to Riverside City College, where he was given another opportunity to prove himself. Instead of allowing his mistakes to define him, Mitchell turned JUCO into the foundation of his comeback. He became a back-to-back California State Champion in the 100m (2018 & 2019), won the 2019 200m State Championship, and broke Riverside’s 100m school record with a 10.12.
What initially looked like a major setback became the path that eventually took him from JUCO to the Division I level at Arizona State and Purdue University.
He then transferred to Arizona State (2019–21), where he endured the toughest competitive stretch of his career. Battling minor shin fractures in both seasons and a coaching environment that severely impacted his confidence, Mitchell struggled to perform at the level he had grown accustomed to. Despite the adversity, he still ran 6.67 in the 60m, and 21.24 in the 200m, while helping ASU’s 4×100 relay reach the NCAA West Preliminary Round. After two of the hardest seasons of his career at Arizona State, Mitchell transferred to Purdue University in 2022 with one final opportunity to prove to himself that he could still compete at an elite level and he did.
In his final collegiate season, Mitchell became a Big Ten silver medalist in the 200m, running 20.35, finished fourth in the 100m with a 10.12, earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors, and collected two Big Ten medals. He also helped Purdue’s 4×100m relay qualify for the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
After injuries, setbacks, losing confidence, and nearly watching his career go in a completely different direction, Purdue became the season that reminded Mitchell exactly who he was.
This is a major reason Mitchell coaches speed today. He changed the trajectory of his own career through the one weapon he could always rely on: his speed. Despite never playing a single down of college football, he still created an opportunity to reach the CFL and pursue professional football, a story in itself.
He knows what it feels like to be overlooked, counted out, and forced to create your own opportunity. Now his mission is to help serious high school sprinters develop the speed, mechanics, explosiveness, and confidence to separate themselves. Because sometimes, all it takes is one measurable weapon to get your foot in the door.