CSUN Director of Athletics Mike Izzi has announced the removal of the interim tag and appointment of Carlene Mitchell as the Matadors’ head women’s basketball coach.
“When we named Carlene our interim head coach this past July, she immediately united the team during an incredibly tough time surrounding the pandemic,” Izzi said. “She always put our student-athletes first while providing them with the best opportunities for success both on and off the court. With her vision for our program, strong knowledge of the game, coaching skills, and philosophies, we feel that Coach Mitchell is the perfect fit to lead the Matador women’s basketball program.”
Mitchell was named interim coach in July 2022 and led CSUN to a Big West Tournament berth. Three Matadors, Tess Amundsen (second team), Jordyn Jackson (honorable mention), and Kayanna Spriggs (All-Freshman), earned All-Conference honors. Amundsen finished the regular season first in Division I in three-point field percentage (49.1%). The Matadors were 25th in Division I in steals per game as a team.
“I’m humbled to be allowed to lead our women’s basketball program, and I believe that together we will be able to experience special things,” Mitchell said. “I’m grateful for our administration and student-athletes for their passion for growing this program, and I look forward to leading us on this journey. We will strive to create a transparent and competitive environment that empowers our young women while also offering a balanced student-athlete experience.”
Mitchell previously coached in the Big West at UC Santa Barbara from 2011-15. In her first season at the helm, she led the Gauchos to the Big West Conference Championship as the sixth seed and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. She also coached two of her players to all Big-West honors. In addition, Mitchell was selected as a finalist for the Spaulding Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year Award presented by the WBCA.
Before joining the Matadors’ program, Mitchell most recently spent time coaching in South Korea in the highly respected WKBL (Women’s Korean Basketball League), serving as a Technical Advisor for KEB Hana Bank. Cheyenne Parker – who Mitchell had coached with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky – was the No. 1 overall pick in the WKBL draft and led the league in points, rebounds, and blocked shots.
Mitchell served as an assistant coach for the Sky during the 2017-18 season. Her experience and familiarity with the league include coaching nine players on current WNBA rosters. Among those players are 2019 All-Star MVP Erica Wheeler (Indiana), 2017 World Champion Essence Carson (Washington), and Top 20 WNBA All-Time Player Cappie Pondexter.
Before UCSB, Mitchell spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Rutgers University. Under the tutelage of Naismith Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer, Mitchell helped direct the Scarlet Knights to NCAA berths in nine straight seasons and served as associate head coach for three seasons.
Rutgers enjoyed unparalleled success during her stay, reaching the Sweet 16 five times, the Elite Eight on three occasions, and the Final Four and national title game in 2007. In addition, Mitchell consistently landed some of the nation’s top recruiting classes for the Scarlet Knights, including four top-15 and the country’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2007.
Before Rutgers, Mitchell spent the 2000-01 season as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma State University. She also served similar roles at Western Illinois and UMKC.
Success started at the collegiate level for Mitchell, who helped lead Trinity Valley Community College to the first of its slew of unprecedented NJCAA National championships (1994, 35-1 record). She was named all-conference and selected to the NJCAA All-Tournament team; Mitchell played at TVCC for Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Kurt Budke.
Mitchell still holds the single-season assists record (337) in the Trinity record book. She was inducted into the Cardinal Hall of Fame in October 2010, joining the likes of former WNBA players Betty Lennox, Shalonda Ennis, and Shannon Bobbitt.
Mitchell concluded her collegiate playing career at Kansas State University, graduating in 1996. As the starting point guard, she played for the former WNBA Dallas Wings coach and Big 12 TV contributor Brian Agler.
On four occasions, Mitchell has served as a contributor for the WBCA to the Nike Villa 7 Coaches Consortium. The consortium was used to bring together university athletic directors and the country’s elite assistant basketball coaches. She also has worked as a contributor for Blue Star, one of the country’s elite basketball evaluation services.
Photo Courtesy CSUN Athletics
https://gomatadors.com/news/2022/3/16/carlene-mitchell-named-csuns-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
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