NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Tuesday the hiring of Tyronn Mitchell as men's basketball assistant coach.
Mitchell, 33, replaces Alfred Williams, who left Xavier in July after six seasons to become the head coach at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Mo.
Mitchell was an assistant coach at Baton Rouge (La.) Community College this past season. He was a standout point guard at Northwestern State University from 2002-06 and played seven years professionally in Europe.
"We are excited to welcome Tyronn Mitchell to the Xavier family," said 13th-year head coach Dannton Jackson. "He has great experience not only as a player at Northwestern State and overseas professionally, but also as a coach at Baton Rouge Community College. We're very familiar with each other. I have spent time on the road recruiting with him. We've scrimmaged against each other and signed some of the BRCC players. We look forward to having Tyronn on our staff."
A native of New Iberia, La., Mitchell was a four-year starter at Northwestern State and is the Demons' career leader with 264 steals. Mitchell was All-Southland Conference second team as a senior and contributed five points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Demons' 64-63 upset of third-seeded Iowa in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Northwestern State trailed the Hawkeyes by 17 points with 8 1/2 minutes remaining and won on Jermaine Wallace's corner 3-pointer with five-tenths of a second remaining. Mitchell was in the lineup during the winning shot.
That comeback for the "Demons of Destiny" was named the greatest in Southland men's basketball history in a 2013 fan poll to celebrate the conference's 50th anniversary.
Mitchell is fourth at Northwestern State with 509 career assists. His four-year totals included 822 points, 365 rebounds and 97 made 3-pointers, and he was selected to the Demons' modern era "Fab 50" (1976-2012).
Mitchell played professionally in Romania from 2006-13. He ended his career on a high note, helping his team finish second in that country's national tournament.
"Xavier has a nice family atmosphere," Mitchell said. "I look forward to working with Dannton Jackson, a coach who has 10 20-win seasons at Xavier. I hope to instill in the young men I coach here the leadership skills and mental toughness I was able to acquire as a player. Being from Louisiana, I can help with in-state recruiting. There are diamonds in the rough in this state, particularly in the rural areas. I think I can go out and get them."
As a sophomore at New Iberia Senior High School, Mitchell was a starter on a team that reached the semifinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. He then spent his junior and senior years at Marine Military Academy Prep School in Harlingen, Texas, where he was a standout in basketball and football.
Xavier was 24-10 in 2014-15, finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament runner-up and ranked 21st in the postseason poll. The Gold Rush have the NAIA's longest active streak of top-25 appearances, 50, and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship each of the past five seasons.
What They're Saying About Tyronn Mitchell
Mike McConathy, Northwestern State University Head Coach
"What a great opportunity for Tyronn to go to work for such an accomplished coach in Dannton Jackson at a truly prestigious university. Tyronn's leadership ability as a player is second to none that I've ever coached. He's a fierce competitor and one of the greatest locker room leaders I've ever known. He made sure players were doing what they needed to do off the floor, as well as on the court, in a competitive nature, and that breeds success in a program. I feel strongly he will carry that forward as he coaches young men. He will be a great influence on them in basketball and in life."
Eric Wilson, Baton Rouge Community College Head Coach
"It was a pleasure working with Coach Mitchell. He is a family man that is dedicated to helping young men. I want to thank him for all that he has done for the program here at Baton Rouge Community College. He will be sorely missed but we are excited for the opportunity that he has ahead of him. Xavier is getting an assistant coach that is great on the court and great off the court helping kids academically. We want to wish him all the best in the future."
Mark Slessinger, University of New Orleans Head Coach
"In my 20 years of college coaching, Tyronn Mitchell was one of the most dymanic leaders I have worked with. He has an incredible feel for the game. Xavier has signed a young superstar in the making. He has a great feel for talent and is able to relate to young men, especially those from Louisiana, and develop them. I am excited for Tyronn to work with Dannton Jackson at Xavier. Dannton will be an excellent mentor and help Tyronn progress in this business."
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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