Michigan State University Athletics
Mitchell Joins Spartan Football Staff
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
February 16, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Reggie Mitchell, an assistant coach to Glen Mason the last 12 years, has been named wide receivers coach at Michigan State, head coach Nick Saban announced Tuesday. Mitchell replaces Charlie Baggett, who resigned Feb. 8 to become wide receivers coach for the NFL's Green Bay Packers.
The 38-year-old Mitchell comes to Michigan State following two seasons as the running backs coach at Minnesota. He followed Mason to Minnesota after a nine-year stint at Kansas, where he coached running backs for two years (1995-96), defensive ends for four seasons (1991-94) and defensive line for three years (1988-90). As running backs coach, Mitchell tutored June Henley, who ranks as the Jayhawks' all-time leading rusher with 3,841 career yards. He served on the Kansas coaching staff with Michigan State assistant head coach Pat Ruel (1988-96), defensive secondary coach Mark Dantonio (1991-94) and running backs coach Bobby Williams (1990).
"It's a homecoming of sorts for Reggie Mitchell, who grew up in the Flint area," Saban said. "Reggie comes highly recommended by a few of our assistant coaches, who worked with him at Kansas. He's a talented young coach and a solid recruiter."
From 1992-95, Kansas won 29 games - the best four-year total in 85 seasons. In 1995, the Jayhawks went 10-2 and finished ninth in the final Associated Press Poll, following a 51-30 victory over UCLA in the Aloha Bowl. Kansas compiled an 8-4 overall record in 1992, including a 23-20 triumph over BYU in the Aloha Bowl, and stood No. 22 in the final AP Poll.
"Michigan State is truly one of the elite football programs in the Big Ten," Mitchell said. "It's a big honor to coach at Michigan State and I look forward to having the opportunity to coach with Nick Saban. Plus, I'm excited about working with two great wide receivers, in Gari Scott and Plaxico Burress. Those guys can make a coach look pretty good."
Mitchell first joined Coach Mason as wide receivers coach at Kent State in 1987. Prior to joining Mason, he coached the running backs at Western Michigan in 1986. He served as a graduate assistant coach under Bo Schembechler at Michigan in 1985. His first full-time coaching assignment came at Ferris State in 1984 where he worked with the wide receivers.
A four-year starter as a running back at Central Michigan (1978-81), Mitchell rushed for 2,394 career yards. He helped the Chippewas win back-to-back Mid-American Conference titles in 1979-80. Mitchell earned team MVP honors in 1981 after gaining 1,068 yards rushing. He received a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation from Central Michigan in 1981. Mitchell broke into the college coaching ranks as a student coach at his alma mater in 1983.
An all-state running back at Flint (Mich.) Southwestern High School, Mitchell later returned to his high school alma mater as an assistant coach in 1982.
Mitchell and his wife Andrea have two children, a son, Kaeman, and a daughter, Karena. He also has a daughter, Deborah, who lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.
