Arizona State University head women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced the appointment of Terri Mitchell as special assistant to the head coach.
One of the most accomplished names in NCAA Women’s Basketball, Mitchell, who started her coaching career at ASU as a graduate assistant in 1989, brings more than 20 years of experience to Tempe, including 18 seasons as head coach at Marquette where she won 348 games and led the Golden Eagles to the postseason 15 times.
“I am elated that Terri Mitchell will be joining our Sun Devil women’s basketball family,” Turner Thorne said. “Terri is going to add incredible value to our program in so many ways. Her experience as a successful head coach at the highest level combined with her outstanding skillset will make her an invaluable voice on our staff. In addition to her outstanding basketball success, Terri is an amazing person who shares our passion for helping student-athletes be the best they can be in all phases of their lives.
“I want to thank (ASU vice president for university athletics) Ray Anderson and our entire administration for their incredible support in allowing us to create this new position.”
In her distinguished tenure as Marquette’s head coach Mitchell, who earned conference coach of the year honors three times – Conference USA (1998, 2000) BIG EAST (2007) – led the Golden Eagles to 20 or more wins 10 times to go with seven NCAA Tournament appearances and eight trips to the postseason WNIT, including the WNIT title in 2008.
“I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to be part of Charli’s staff,” Mitchell said. “Her commitment to excellence on and off the court shines through in both word and action and it is why ASU women’s basketball is known as one of the top programs in the nation. I’m excited to start working with Charli, her tremendous staff and the dedicated student-athletes on the team. I look forward to adding value by helping them enhance their winning tradition and commitment to ASU and the community at large.”
After serving as an assistant coach at Marquette for five seasons, Mitchell was named to the top spot in 1996. The impact of Mitchell’s outstanding leadership was immediate as the Golden Eagles, who won eight games the season prior to Mitchell’s promotion, advanced to the NCAA Tournament and won 21 or more games in each of her first four seasons leading the program. Included in that run were a pair of Conference USA regular season championships (1999 and 2000).
Mitchell’s 2002-03 squad started a stretch that would see Marquette qualify for postseason play 11 times in 12 seasons. The Golden Eagles posted several signature program accomplishments in that period including a trip to the finals of the WNIT in 2006, a school record 26 wins in 2007 and the school’s only WNIT championship in 2008. Marquette also tied its best NCAA Tournament finish twice during that period.
During her time as an assistant coach, Mitchell was instrumental in recruiting Marquette’s 1996-97 class, which was ranked 12th in the nation by the Blue Star Index. Marquette posted an 87-61 record and made three postseason appearances during Mitchell’s stint as an assistant.
In addition to her time at Marquette, Mitchell’s extensive experience includes serving as an assistant coach for USA Basketball’s U18 Team that won the gold medal while going unbeaten at the 2008 FIBA Americas Championship.
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mitchell was a four-year letterwinner and team co-captain at Duquesne University. After an outstanding career with the Dukes, Mitchell graduated Cum Laude with a psychology degree in 1989.
Tagged with: Arizona State PAC-12
