Pride Sports Info.
11/18/2008 4:02:29 PM
Neal Mitchell will not return next year as Greensboro College’s head football coach, announced Pride Athletics Director Kim Strable.
Mitchell finished his seventh season with a 2-8 record. Overall, his team’s compiled a record of 18-52.
Coach Mitchell’s tenure had numerous highlights. In the 2004 season, GC earned its first-ever win over a ranked opponent when they defeated 30th-ranked Shenandoah, a team that would later win the USA South championship and qualify for the NCAA playoffs. Mitchell’s 2003 club was the best the program has developed. Early in the year, Greensboro College was ranked 3rd in the nation in defense, allowing only 125 yards per game.
"We wish Coach Mitchell nothing but the best as he moves forward,” Strable said. “He is a first class individual who represented Greensboro College with dignity and honor and was a great role model for our student-athletes and staff."
Under his direction, Pride student-athletes earned 49 USA South All Conference honors, seven regional academic team selections and five all-region picks the past six years. Additionally, GC has had one All-American, a CoSIDA national academic team pick and two USAS rookies of the year since Mitchell arrived at GC.
Mitchell mentored some of the most decorated student athletes in program history. Torrey Lowe holds numerous GC marks and set a USA South record with 91 receptions this year. Brick Crowder recently set a new Pride career tackles mark with 286.
"Our football program has struggled with consistency and putting all of the puzzle pieces together,” Strable said. “We have determined it is time to give someone else a chance to lead the program and move us into the championship circle in the USA South Athletic Conference."
"It is just as important for our football program to be successful as it is for any other aspect of the college,” noted Strable. “Success breeds success and intercollegiate athletics will always be a player in helping the institution gain and maintain a high standard of excellence."
In his rookie year as head coach (2002), Mitchell led The Pride to a record of 4-6 and 4-2 in Dixie Conference games, GC’s best conference finish ever. Following the season, GC dominated the all-conference team. The Pride placed a conference-high 12 honorees on the DIAC team, including 7 on the first team.
Mitchell helped spearhead The Pride’s Twelfth Man Advisory Council. TMAC consists of former college and professional football players who engage and mentor Pride student-athletes during the season as they prepare for their future after college. TMAC members also serve as honorary game-day coaches/captains, motivational speakers, Fellowship of Christian Athletes speakers, and they provide overall guidance for our NCAA Division III football program. In addition, Mitchell supervised GC’s strength and conditioning for Greensboro College students.
A 1992 graduate of Washington University, Mitchell was a four-year starter at defensive end and an all conference selection as a senior. Mitchell’s coaching resume includes stops at Vanderbilt University (1994) as an administrative assistant; Louisiana State University (1995) as a graduate assistant; and Wash University (1996) as defensive line coach.
While at LSU, Mitchell was on a staff that led the Tigers to a bowl game win over Michigan State. During that same season, LSU recorded its first winning season in six years. At Washington University, he was part of a conference champion team.
