NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks head coach Kevin Mitchell walks back to the dugout after a mound visit in the Mavs' 6-4 Game 1 loss to the Saskatoon Berries in the East semifinals on Aug. 7.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Kevin Mitchell isn’t looking to compare his two summers at the helm of the Medicine Hat Mavericks, he’s happy with both experiences.
The 2023 WCBL coach of the year spoke with the News while returning home after the Mavs lost in the East semi-finals to the Saskatoon Berries on July 9. He enjoyed his second summer in the Hat and getting to work with assistant coaches Cody Henderson Tory Nelson, Chad Martin and owner/general manager Greg Morrison.
“It created a really cool set of dynamics where each guy has their own experience, their own perspective, and then it became my job as the head coach to kind of filter through all that and make the decision I felt was best for our team,” Mitchell said. “Anytime you’re working with a staff that is knowledgeable and cares, it’s a good thing. It makes it difficult at times to handle the different voices in your ear and in the room, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“It gives our players more perspectives, more coaches to talk to about different things, and a lot of times we’ll say the same thing, just slightly different words, and sometimes it clicks a little better from one guy than another. This year had its own set of challenges as well, as great as it is having a full staff, there are more things to consider and that at times can be stressful and overwhelming. But at the end of the day, I think it’s a net positive in terms of trying to create a unit.”
Across his one-and-a-half full seasons as head coach of the Mavs, Mitchell led the red and white to a 51-37 regular season record, adding another six playoff wins with a 6-5 postseason record.
He’s left with a lot of memories from the season, including his first ever ejection in a game of baseball and the playoff-like midseason series they had with the WCBL finalist Moose Jaw Miller Express.
“That three-game set with Moose Jaw was a lot of fun and very intense and is slightly ahead of Game 2 in Saskatoon,” Mitchell said. “Watching Josh Landry do his thing, that was a really well played, tightly contested playoff game. All three of those (playoff) games were great baseball games, both teams played well, it was a fun series.”
Once he returned home, Mitchell was looking forward to spending time with his wife Katie and their dog before he takes a new position in the baseball world. Mitchell is joining Utah Valley University as the director of baseball operations.
It’s a Western conference, DI school in the NCAA, and he will be tasked with handling the itineraries, ensuring the athletes and staff have everything they need on the road, organizing flights, food and lodging while also serving in a coaching role.
It’s a job that Mitchell says he’s had training for throughout his life and gained experience for with the Mavs.
“My experience the last two summers in dealing with some of that stuff will be invaluable, I’ve also got a pretty diverse working history,” Mitchell said. “I’ve owned a business and I’ve worked in HOA management and worked at a high school, I have a pretty robust knowledge of these things. I feel very well suited for it, definitely better prepared thanks to my time in Med Hat and all the stuff that goes along with putting all the pieces together for a collegiate summer baseball team. It’s a lot, so that will be a help.”
Mitchell owned a cleaning business while in college called Dirt Dudes, inspired by his mom’s business Dirt Divas, and cleaned condos to make a little cash while in school. He credits his mom for his work ethic and the drive to get where he’s gotten in baseball and life.
“My dad passed when I was young, so she’d take me to work at 5 a.m. at eight, nine years old, to go scrub toilets before going to school. I did not appreciate that at the time. In hindsight, I really, really value all the hours I spent with her early in the morning,” Mitchell said. “Seeing what it’s all about to really work hard for something.”
The Mavs confirmed in a social media post Saturday they will be looking for a new coaching staff for the new season due to Mitchell, Henderson and Nelson all taking on new roles. Mitchell says he’s open to a return in the future and is thankful for his time in the Gas City.
“The place means a lot to me, because it means a lot to the community, and that is something that is really a privilege to be a part of,” Mitchell said.
“I’m so passionate about baseball and what baseball means to me personally, what baseball means to a community and that’s really on display in Medicine Hat,” Mitchell said. “You see it every night after the game, when the kids are waiting for the high fives and the autographs, that spirit, that kind of wonder that those kids feel, is everything. It’s contagious, it’s addicting and you want to be part of something like that where you can feel that what you’re doing matters.
“I really felt that in Medicine Hat, and that’s a credit to everyone in the organization, and also everyone who supports that team and has supported that team over the last 20 years. There’s a hominess to Medicine Hat that I really enjoy, it’s very welcoming and comfortable, and the people have been great in the two summers that I’ve been there.”
