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Shawn Jones

DIRECTOR, ATHLETICS

Shawn has 30 years of head basketball coaching experience combined with 11 years as an athletic director. He has coached in Colorado and Texas, and has taken teams to three Final Four tournaments and a state championship. He has seen numerous players of his continue on to compete at the college and professional level of the sport. He is also proud to have seen many of his athletes become high school and collegiate coaches themselves. As director of athletics, Shawn is a key member of Ballogy’s team, driving the company’s athletic strategy, partnerships, coach engagement, and product vision. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 32 years and they have raised three wonderful children together. Shawn has a passion for player development and the desire to assist coaches with effective, time-saving tools of administering and assessing skill development drills.

by Shawn Jones on Nov 11, 2024

In basketball, and in life, critics and naysayers abound almost as equally as supporters.  The important thing is to ignore the wrong voices and focus on listening to the right voices and proving them either wrong or right in what they are saying.

Tyrone Mitchell is a seasoned player and coach with a track record of success that ranges from high school State Champion to NCAA D1 athlete and professional player overseas, to Associate Head Coach at Xavier University Louisiana.  Our visit offers an insightful look into his journey and his commitment to changing lives through building relationships.

Coach Mitchell’s path into coaching began actually in high school at Marine Military Academy (MMA) in Harlingen, Texas. After exhausting his playing eligibility, Tyrone served as a practice player and assistant coach his last year at MMA. His expertise and input from a player’s perspective helped lift the MMA Leathernecks to a 31-2 season and TAPPS 5A State Championship. It was clear at that time that Tyrone had a gift for coaching. He immediately took that experience into a great 4 year collegiate playing campaign where he led his Northwestern State University Demons as point guard to a historic NCAA tournament run and last second excitement that still ranks in ESPN top 10 tournament finishes, as well as holding many NSU accolades, to a stint playing professional basketball across the globe in Europe, from Hungary and Romania to Belarus and Germany.

Tyrone’s career transitioned to coaching at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) a year after he hung up his professional sneakers. At BRCC, Mitchell worked under Coach Eric Wilson, who is now at Winston-Salem State. His successful tenure at BRCC paved the way for his move to Xavier University in 2015.

At Xavier, Coach Mitchell’s impact was immediate. Over the past nine years, his tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including 15 All-Americans, multiple conference titles, and accolades for coaching excellence. Mitchell’s role evolved from an Assistant to Associate Head Coach, a position he has held for six years, reflecting his integral contribution to the program’s success.

His duties as Associate Head Coach extend beyond game strategy. He plays a crucial role in maintaining team cohesion and ensuring players’ academic and personal success. From organizing study halls and securing tutors to offering financial and personal advice, Coach Mitchell’s hands-on approach helps shape the players’ overall experience.

His coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of nurturing players both on and off the court. Drawing from his experiences under mentors and adapting to the evolving landscape of college basketball, Coach Mitchell has developed a coaching style that prioritizes personal growth and accountability. “I have to be so many things to these guys…coach, parent, financial advisor, relationship advisor, academic motivator, role model, and friend. But ultimately, those relationships are what make our team strong; and not just strong for a season, but for life.” For Coach Mitchell, there’s a profound commitment to leaving a lasting impact on every season and every individual involved. “This journey is marked by dedication, selflessness, and a drive to continually improve and uplift those around us. I just want everyone to be their best version– me included.”

For Tyrone, the ultimate goal is not just to achieve personal success but to contribute to the broader success of the team and its leadership. As the saying goes, the aim is to always leave a program better than it was found. This philosophy is driven by a deep-seated commitment to enhancing the performance and achievements of the head coach and the team. “My goal every year is focused on making the head coach “Coach of the Year”.  His success is my success. I want our team to win. Our success is my success.”  For him, personal accolades are secondary to ensuring that the head coach and the program excel.

This dedication extends beyond individual teams to every program the coach has been part of. From player at Marine Military Academy in TX and Northwestern State University, to coach at Baton Rouge Community College and Xavier University, the coach’s consistent goal has been to improve every program he has been involved with. His tenure at these institutions has left them better than he found them, a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence.

His mindset, deeply rooted in leaving every place better, has also translated into his playing career overseas. Regardless of where he went, no matter what country or status the team was in, his focus remained committed to contributing to the overall growth and betterment of everyone involved.

The journey of a coach is also deeply intertwined with personal growth and overcoming adversity. For Tyrone basketball has been a vehicle for personal development and success. From navigating academic hardship to transitioning from college to professional play, the support of positive relationships and a strong work ethic have been crucial in overcoming obstacles and achieving success. “It was just focus.  I was spending time on all the wrong things– not bad things–just the wrong things, and I didn’t get credits. MMA taught me to focus and be disciplined to get my credits back.”  The coach’s experience, from overcoming academic abyss in high school to finding success in professional leagues despite initial setbacks, underscores the importance of perseverance and support. The lessons learned through these experiences not only shaped his approach to coaching but also highlighted the broader impact of basketball as a tool for personal and professional development.

As Coach Mitchell continues to contribute to the sport, his journey serves as an inspiration to both current and aspiring coaches. The focus on improving every program, and overcoming personal challenges exemplifies the dedication required to make a meaningful impact in the world of sports.

Coach Mitchell’s career has taken him to various corners of the globe, and traveling to diverse locations like London and France enriched his understanding of different cultures and basketball styles, shaping his perspective as a person and coach.

These experiences are not just memories; they have become the foundation of his coaching philosophy. He emphasizes that his travels allow him to connect with younger athletes on a deeper level, offering them firsthand knowledge and tangible examples of how dedication and hard work can lead to success. His approach is not merely theoretical but grounded in real-world experiences, making his guidance all the more credible.

Coach Mitchell’s leadership style is deeply rooted in personal integrity and family values. He highlights the importance of leading by example, demonstrating to his athletes that being a committed husband and father is as important as being a dedicated player or coach. His wife’s involvement in team activities and her nurturing approach towards the players exemplify the family-like environment he strives to create within his team. “My coach took me and my teammates in like that at MMA (Marine Military Academy), and coaches did the same thing at Northwestern…it makes a big difference for kids, so I want to do the same thing for our athletes here at Xavier or wherever I am coaching.”

This personal touch, he believes, fosters a sense of belonging and respect among the athletes, helping them to see the broader picture of success and personal growth. His philosophy extends beyond coaching tactics to encompass life skills and values, which he hopes to impart to his players.

Looking ahead, Coach Mitchell expresses his ambition to excel in his own program as Head Coach. He knows he is ready for the challenge. He acknowledges that true leadership involves being an effective follower and a servant leader, someone who collaborates and uplifts those around them. This humility in leadership is a cornerstone of his approach, as he strives to lead with empathy and respect.

Tyrone knows what it is like to have little direction or guidance early in his athletic career, struggling to see the importance of each academic assignment. He also knows what it is like to have someone believe in him, show him his future, and hold him accountable to accomplishing his dreams. That is what he longs to become for his own players.  “I always had to take the hard way, it seems like. I had to fight through adversity all my career. But it has made me tougher and wiser. It has taught me how to help kids better.”

He reflects on his journey with a blend of humility and confidence, recognizing that his life experiences, marked by adversity and perseverance, have fortified his resolve and leadership abilities. His story is not just about his past successes but also about his readiness to embrace future opportunities with the same dedication and integrity.

He acknowledges the role of skeptics in his journey, seeing them as a source of motivation rather than obstacles. Their doubt fueled his drive to succeed, and he expresses gratitude for their indirect contributions to his growth. “I have spent my life either proving people right or proving people wrong– it doesn’t matter which one…it fuels me to be the best version of me that I can be.”

Coach Tyrone Mitchell will undoubtedly continue to silence his critics and affirm his believers as he makes his mark on the coaching profession in the years to come. His resume is proof that he knows how to fight through adversity and excel with humility.  No matter what people say or think, Coach Mitchell will continue to be a highly successful coach wherever he is… he will give all he has to either prove them right or wrong!