Boys Basketball
Snider Grad Enzley Mitchell IV to Lead St Mary of the Woods Men’s Basketball
Saint Mary of the Woods College has hired Snider graduate Enzley Mitchell IV to be the school’s new men’s basketball coach. The school announced the hire on June 4th through an article on their athletic website; smwcpomeroys.com. Mitchell will serve as the Pomeroys’ first-ever head men’s basketball coach. The team will start competing in the 2021-2022 school year.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve as the first Men’s Basketball coach at SMWC and Professor of Sports Leadership,” Mitchell said. “I look forward to working with each of the coaches in the other sports to continue building the athletics program.”
Mitchell graduated from Snider in 1990. He played for head coach Jim Roussseau.
“The two biggest lessons I can take from my time at Snider would be the importance of developing your game and body in the summer and offseason and treating your teammates and coaches like family,” Mitchell said. “I really didn’t understand the year around commitment required to excel in any sport until my time at Snider.”
One of Mitchell’s assistant coaches at Snider was Keith Edmonds, who later went on to coach at Elmhurst, and now works with Always 100 Basketball. Even today, Mitchell considers Edmonds to be a major influence in his coaching career.
“Keith Edmonds was instrumental in making sure we were working in the weight room and engaging in regular skill development to improve as complete players in the offseason,” Mitchell said. “The coaches did a great job of creating a caring family atmosphere for the Freshman, Reserve, JV, and Varsity teams.”
After high school, Mitchell went on to play college ball at Spring Arbor. He averaged double-digits in scoring and rebounding during his senior season and was a four-year letterman.
“I really enjoyed my time at SAU. I grew tremendously as a man, student and basketball player thanks to my Coaches, Professors, and teammates,” Mitchell said. “My time at SAU has helped shape my coaching style and the way I want to run our program. I still talk to both of my College coaches on a regular basis and many of my teammates. These lifelong friendships are part of what makes participating in a team sport at any level so rewarding.”
Mitchell has plenty of collegiate coaching experience. He has served as an assistant coach at various schools such as IUPUI, Millikin University, Wilberforce University, and Earlham College. He has served as a head coach at schools such as Northern New Mexico College and Illinois Institute of Technology.
“For me, the most enjoyable part of coaching at the College level is that students are playing the game for the love of the sport and their teammates,” Mitchell said. “I love preparing a team and watching them grow and get better over the course of a season. I really enjoy keeping up with former students I’ve coached and seeing what they are doing in their lives after they have graduated.”
In addition to his college coaching experience, Mitchell also coached a year in the professional ranks. He was the head coach of the Swansea Basketball Club in Swansea, Wales, UK. Having coached at both the college and pro levels, Mitchell recognizes some differences between various levels of basketball.
“The basic game is the same from level to level, but in my eyes what is different is the talent level, size, skill and athleticism of the players, and complexity of offensive/defensive schemes,” Mitchell said. “Many Pros approach the game as a job. This can be both good and bad. Many College players approach basketball as the same game they have grown up participating in playing the game in its purest form. True enjoyment of the sport, competition, and preparation for the next opponent.”
Though Mitchell did not say what specific offensive and defensive schemes he plans to run, he does have an idea of what he wants the Pomeroys to run offensively and defensively. However, he also said that the schemes will largely be based on the team’s personnel.
Not surprisingly, Mitchell does expect to face his share of challenges when it comes to taking over at a school with a brand new basketball program.
“Coaching college basketball is a challenge in itself. Building a new program presents some additional challenges such as marketing the new team to high school, AAU and Junior college coaches,” Mitchell said. “It is important to build relationships with high school coaches in the state and region as part of a good recruiting strategy. This helps build a pipeline for prospects down the road. Outside of recruiting and developing the team on the court, we have to start creating a schedule for 2021-22 and beyond. Like most College Coaches, I work 2-3 years out setting the schedule. Fundraising is an important piece of any College athletics department and it will be one key part of providing a first-class experience for our students.”
