Derrick Mitchell recently completed his 17th year as a basketball coach and seventh season at the helm of the Voorhees men’s basketball program, where he has overseen one of the most successful stretches in school history.
During his tenure, Mitchell led the Tigers to back-to-back appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and tied the program’s single-season wins record with 24 victories in 2018–19. That season, Voorhees posted a 24–6 overall record, matched the school record for wins, and finished undefeated at home (14–0). Entering the A.I.I. Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed, Mitchell guided the Tigers to three wins in three days to capture the A.I.I. Conference Tournament Championship.
The 2017–18 season was another milestone year, as the Tigers finished 19–10 and earned a berth in the NAIA Division II National Championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Despite being picked fifth in the preseason poll, Voorhees finished as conference runner-up and conference tournament runner-up. The Tigers were also one of only two NAIA Division II teams to defeat eventual A.I.I. Conference champion Stillman College during the regular season.
In 2016–17, Mitchell led the Tigers to a 17–13 record and an A.I.I. Conference Tournament Championship, achieving a goal that narrowly escaped the program the previous season.
Mitchell’s impact was immediate upon his arrival. In his first season (2014–15), he guided the Tigers to a 13–17 record. In year two (2015–16), Voorhees surged to 21–7 overall — a seven-win improvement and the largest year-to-year turnaround for the program in nearly 15 years. The Tigers posted a 10–4 road record, ranking among the top road records in the NAIA that season. For his efforts, Mitchell was named the 2015–16 A.I.I. Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Over his first two seasons, he compiled a 35–25 record (.583 winning percentage).
In 2019–20, Mitchell again led the Tigers to a 24–6 finish, marking back-to-back 24-win seasons and solidifying the program as a consistent contender.
Prior to joining Voorhees, Mitchell served as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at Southern Arkansas University (NCAA Division II). There, he helped guide the team to its first conference tournament appearance since 2006–07. Just one year removed from an 0–25 season, the program improved to 12 wins — more than the previous three seasons combined.
Mitchell also previously served as an assistant coach at Wallace Community College–Selma, where he was the recruiting coordinator and worked primarily with the guards. During his tenure, the program captured back-to-back conference championships and sent five student-athletes to NCAA Division I institutions. He began his coaching career at R.B. Hudson High School in Selma, Alabama, posting a 25–2 record over two seasons and winning two championships.
Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Tougaloo College in 2002 and later received a master’s degree in coaching and sports studies from the United States Sports Academy in 2009.
He is the proud father of one daughter, Brookelynn.
