Longtime assistant Mitchell leaving Wisconsin women’s rowing
September 30, 2024 | Women's Rowing
Mitchell departs after nine years with Badger rowing
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin women's rowing Associate Head Coach Jim Mitchell is leaving the rowing scene after nine years on the Badger coaching staff.
"It is very bittersweet to be losing Jim as a valued member of our staff and Badger Rowing family but also so happy for him to embark on a new career," head coach Vicky Opitz said. "He has been with the team for the last nine years, from novice coach, assistant coach, and associate head coach. He is extremely passionate about the sport and shared his vast knowledge of experiences in helping not only the athletes grow but all of us at the Porter boathouse."
Mitchell joined the Badgers for the 2015-16 and made an immediate impact, directing both novice eights to undefeated seasons, including titles at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
He continued with the novices before transitioning into coaching the varsity four in the spring of 2017. He took on varsity coaching for good the following season and became associate head coach in 2020 under then head coach Bebe Bryans.
The Badgers reached the NCAA championships in five of a possible eight NCAA championships during Mitchell's nine seasons at UW. No NCAA championships were held in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before Mitchell joined the coaching staff in Madison, he spent 12 years as the head coach and director of rowing at Jacksonville. He coached both men's and women's rowing, leading the men to a varsity eight Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships appearance in 2010. Focusing on the women beginning in 2011, he led the Dolphins to a pair of NCAA championship appearances.
While at JU, he served as head coach of the Brooks Adaptive Rowing Program and was on the board of directors for the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
Mitchell was also Mid-Atlantic Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003 during his one year at West Virginia, spent four years as men's rowing coach at Miami where he served as boatman for the men's and women's programs and spent 1994-98 as head coach for the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association.
In his playing days, Mitchell was a rower under former Badger and Olympian Robert Espeseth, J., and a member of the top-20 wrestling program at Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"Jim is one of the rare coaches that knows how to fair, kind, and honest with athletes," Opitz added. "His humor (fantastic "dad" jokes) and catalog of fun challenging workouts will be greatly missed. I could not have asked or wished for a more supportive associate head coach and mentor this past year. We wish him nothing but happiness in his next chapter of professional life and hope he comes back to visit the team often in the future."
"I am really appreciative for all the great students staff, and coaches I got to work with over the last nine years, Mitchell said. "The history and traditions of this program are elite, but the people are by far the best part of the Wisconsin Women's Rowing program. I am so grateful for all I have learned and experienced each day in the Porter Boathouse and on Lake Mendota. The program is in good hands, and I can't wait to follow along as a fan to watch the continued growth."
"It is very bittersweet to be losing Jim as a valued member of our staff and Badger Rowing family but also so happy for him to embark on a new career," head coach Vicky Opitz said. "He has been with the team for the last nine years, from novice coach, assistant coach, and associate head coach. He is extremely passionate about the sport and shared his vast knowledge of experiences in helping not only the athletes grow but all of us at the Porter boathouse."
Mitchell joined the Badgers for the 2015-16 and made an immediate impact, directing both novice eights to undefeated seasons, including titles at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
He continued with the novices before transitioning into coaching the varsity four in the spring of 2017. He took on varsity coaching for good the following season and became associate head coach in 2020 under then head coach Bebe Bryans.
The Badgers reached the NCAA championships in five of a possible eight NCAA championships during Mitchell's nine seasons at UW. No NCAA championships were held in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before Mitchell joined the coaching staff in Madison, he spent 12 years as the head coach and director of rowing at Jacksonville. He coached both men's and women's rowing, leading the men to a varsity eight Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships appearance in 2010. Focusing on the women beginning in 2011, he led the Dolphins to a pair of NCAA championship appearances.
While at JU, he served as head coach of the Brooks Adaptive Rowing Program and was on the board of directors for the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
Mitchell was also Mid-Atlantic Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003 during his one year at West Virginia, spent four years as men's rowing coach at Miami where he served as boatman for the men's and women's programs and spent 1994-98 as head coach for the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association.
In his playing days, Mitchell was a rower under former Badger and Olympian Robert Espeseth, J., and a member of the top-20 wrestling program at Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"Jim is one of the rare coaches that knows how to fair, kind, and honest with athletes," Opitz added. "His humor (fantastic "dad" jokes) and catalog of fun challenging workouts will be greatly missed. I could not have asked or wished for a more supportive associate head coach and mentor this past year. We wish him nothing but happiness in his next chapter of professional life and hope he comes back to visit the team often in the future."
"I am really appreciative for all the great students staff, and coaches I got to work with over the last nine years, Mitchell said. "The history and traditions of this program are elite, but the people are by far the best part of the Wisconsin Women's Rowing program. I am so grateful for all I have learned and experienced each day in the Porter Boathouse and on Lake Mendota. The program is in good hands, and I can't wait to follow along as a fan to watch the continued growth."
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