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I remember the first time I saw Tom Mitchell...or the first time I thought I saw Tom Mitchell.
It was 1968, my first year reporting high school sports for the old Chicago Daily News, and I was covering a Catholic League football game at Gately Stadium on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
I was standing on the Brother Rice sideline when I was forced to make way for a white-haired, hard-boiled, shouting, screaming wild man whom I assumed at the time was head coach Tom Mitchell. He had something to say to every player on the field who was wearing a crimson jersey and it wasn't very complimentary.
Standing a few yards away from him was a much younger man whom I assumed at the time was an assistant coach. He barely said a word or blinked an eye.
"Boy, the head coach really gets excited, doesn't he?" I said to someone.
"Oh, he's not the head coach. He's Joe Johnston," I was told.
The white-haired fellow was Joe Johnston, Brother Rice's longtime assistant. He was a gifted line coach who, despite his age, would think nothing of going one-on-one with his teenage linemen during practice. He helped three of them to go to Michigan on scholarship.
The Quiet Man? Tom Mitchell. He will be honored Saturday at halftime of the Brother Rice/Morgan Park football game at Soldier Field. It will be part of the tripleheader that also features Mount Carmel/Curie and Fenwick/Lane Tech. A reception will follow the game.
Mitchell is being recognized for his contributions to the game. He is most deserving. In 26 years, from 1967 to 1992, his teams posted a record of 170-95-1, a .641 winning percentage. His Crusaders won a state championship in 1981 and were second in 1985.
But Mitchell's accomplishments go way beyond X's and O's and wins and losses.
A South Sider who played football at Mount Carmel, he is a gentleman who enjoyed the competitive spirit of the Catholic League but always remembered that his primary mission "was to develop kids to the best of their ability."
He said the most fun he had in coaching was the interaction with players such as Mark Donahue, Tom Coyle and Jerry Szara and assistant coaches such as Johnston, Eddie Bara, John Langdan, Eddie Staron, Dennis Duffy, Dan Jacoby, Bill Gleeson and Tom Mitchell, his son who played on the 1981 championship team and now is an assistant at the University of Chicago.
His other son Tim, who didn't play football but served as a statistician, is the Superintendent of the Chicago Park District.
"At Brother Rice, we didn't get the bulk of talented kids," the old coach said. "We had to work hard to maximize their ability. I felt I helped a lot of kids. It made my job worthwhile."
He still is helping kids. Currently employed by the Chicago Housing Authority, he is involved in youth development. "My mission is to get kids off the streets and into park district programs," he said.
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They honor the Catholic League Player and Coach of the Year with the Tony Lawless Award. I have often thought they should give out a Tom Mitchell award for the player or coach who displays the kind of integrity,selflessness and team first attitude that Mitch stood for.
Posted by: Mike Mahoney | August 25, 2008 3:34 PM
It was an honor to know and play for a legendary coach like Coach Mitchell. The fact that we were the 1985 state runners-up was one of the most exciting and memorable times of my life. But it goes way beyond football.Coach Mitchell taught me how to be successful in life. The discipline, teamwork, selflessnss, leadership,etc. that I learn from Coach Mitchell is priceless to me. Almost 23 years later, it has enable me to be the first in my family to earn a college degree; have a very successful career as a police officer with the Chicago Police Dept.; and be the best father I could be to my eight year old son Alexian. Aside from my father, Coach Mitchell has been the most influential person in my life.
Posted by: Lou Ortoneda | August 30, 2008 4:44 AM
I remember everything about High school Football, Brother Rice and Coach Mitchell. I still remember all the plays and formations and all my assignments. I played with the greatest guys i would ever meet. Some of them are gone now, but never forgotten. They were tough and the 60's football was old school. Our team, Coach's first team, was undefeated in our regular season and looking back it is incredible we could win each week against the Catholic League competition of that day. Each week it was a battle for the ages and I still swear I can smell the grass and hear the pads and helmets popping. We get older and our stories have to be silent so our kids don't yawn and fall asleep. But for me those great days are still prevelant in my thoughts, and whenever i have been challenged in my life i hear Coach Mitchell's voice screaming at me to keep going, and keep pushing. He was right there in those great old days with my dad to inspire me and guide me. He will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Bill McGann | August 30, 2008 10:39 AM
We had our reunion at the BR-MP game yesterday and it was wonderful. All of us, Coach Mitchell's players, were reminded of how great a coach and man Tom is/was. It speaks volumes about a coach when former players reunite, hug and tell stories as if they had played together just yesterday. Coach was one of those guys who had the ability and cared enough to teach, coach and mentor many of us-what a special, special person. I am deeply grateful for having had Tom Mitchell as my coach.
Posted by: Mark Donahue | August 31, 2008 10:46 AM
Mr. Mitchell was a fine coach, but lets not forget he was an outstanding teacher as well. I never played football for Coach Mitchell but I am thankfull for what he taught and how he taught in the clasroom.
Posted by: Mike DeRoss | September 1, 2008 7:15 AM