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'Greatest Recruiting Pitch This Sport Has Ever Had' as Mitchell Introduced as SMU Coach
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- 'Greatest Recruiting Pitch This Sport Has Ever Had' as Mitchell Introduced as SMU Coach
(Photo Courtesy of SMU)
SMU formally introduced Jim Mitchell as head coach Thursday — a celebratory press gathering with all the trappings of a major sports event: cheerleaders flanking the stage, the pep band, administration and supporters around a podium adorned with blue and red balloons.
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"Just two weeks ago, we shook up the athletics world when we announced that we were going to start a men's lacrosse program here on the Hilltop, the first DI program in the state of Texas, and really a landmark moment for the entire sport of lacrosse," said Brian Ullman, Executive Deputy Athletic Director.
"It was a bold move, but I think a lot of faces in this room know that's what SMU does really well. Bold moves."
Also bold is the fundraising effort. Ullman said that SMU, which had raised $15 million of a targeted $25 million at the program's announcement, is now up to $20 million raised.
Mitchell took stage after Ullman and AD Damon Evans and addressed the big challenge and opportunity head on.
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"Right now, we don't have a single player on this roster yet, or a game on the schedule," Mitchell said. "That's not a weakness. That's the greatest recruiting pitch this country and this sport has ever had. Every single player that comes here gets to write the first chapter of SMU lacrosse."
Mitchell, known for the elite offense he's led at defending champion Princeton as well as Rutgers prior, has embraced the "Moneyball" slogan for his approach. He also shared of his roots, playing DIII at St. Mary's and coaching at Goucher and Roanoke before a stop at Duke as a young assistant. He's coached both sides of the ball, led the Bellarmine program for a year, then fully came into his own in the Tigers' NCAA run.
"Lacrosse has given a lot to me. I started playing late in high school. There's something about it. They say it's the Creator's sport. It's a Native American sport. It's the original American sport. It's our national sport. And there's something special about holding that stick and the magic there," Mitchell said.
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Said Evans: "What really stood out to me about Jim were things beyond his coaching acumen. I thought about this individual as someone who's courageous, who has great character. Someone who believes in what we are doing, but more importantly, believes in what we can become. We all love winning here. I wanted to find a winner, someone who could come in and help us compete right away but build this program for the sustainable future. I found that in the Moneyball Man."
"We are going to coach at the highest level. We're going to have a dynamic, thrilling offense. Moneyball — we're bringing it. We're bringing it here. But we're also going to have a ferocious defense. We're going to be buttoned up. We're going to do things the right way. We're going to play with honor. We're going to play with respect, because again, this is the Creator's sport, and that's the only way it's done. We're going to be cutting edge with our coaching methodologies, our training methods, nutrition, all the things to be the absolute best lacrosse program in the country," said Mitchell.
Watch the press conference here and check out a more in-depth interview with Mitchell forthcoming.
