Coach Spotlight: John Mitchell, Wisconsin Windigo NAHL Head Coach
Former Badger has his team atop the NAHL divisional standings
Perseverance is a cornerstone of success in hockey. John Mitchell got cut from Team Wisconsin prior to his senior season at Neenah High School. Despite the disappointment, John didn’t wallow in self-pity. He continued to work hard, and in the spring of his senior year in high school he was selected to represent Wisconsin on the Senior Showcase Team (now called NIT).
A few weeks after playing for the Showcase (NIT) Team John was selected in the USHL draft. John started with Tri-City but was traded to Green Bay where he finished the season. He returned with Green Bay for the start of his second USHL season but a few weeks in John was traded to Indianapolis. John played 14 games for Indianapolis and then got informed he was being released.
John was still a teenager, yet he had already been traded twice and lived with three different host families in three different states. John returned home following being cut by Indy. He contemplated his future. The decision was between going to another junior team in a different league in a different state or hanging up the skates and enrolling in college.
A fortuitous option three manifested when the Wisconsin Badgers unexpectedly offered John an opportunity to be a walk-on. John accepted the offer and went on to play four seasons at the University of Wisconsin and five seasons of professional hockey.
Let’s hear from John Mitchell!
Congratulations on being named Windigo’s head coach. Thank you.
What emotions were you feeling when you got hired? I was elated to have this opportunity! It was humbling and super exciting.
What drew you into coaching? I retired from playing professional hockey at age 29. I wanted a breather from hockey. As an athlete your identity becomes the sport…it is everything. I wanted to see what else I could do so I took a sales position in Milwaukee and did that from age 30 to 34. While I was in sales, I contacted Jason Woods at University School to see if I could help. I ended up more excited about coaching than my real job. Hockey provided a purpose. I decided I wanted to pursue coaching.
What’s the typical day as an NAHL head coach? It varies from person to person and organization to organization. Wake up early, go to the rink, calls with agents, speak with future recruits and families, hold individual player meetings, proctor the player workouts, and then team practice and team meetings in afternoon.
What’s your favorite part of the job? Being part of the process helping players realize their dreams. Seeing a player get a D-1 commitment.
What prepared you for the job? First is my playing background. I went from a D-3 caliber player to a pro player. I understand the process and if I can do it others can. The second thing is my five years in sales prepared me to sell myself and to talk to people.
When you were a kid what was your hockey dream? To play for the Badgers. We don’t have an NHL team in Wisconsin, so the Badgers were my dream. If my parents didn’t take me down to Madison to attend a game, we would watch the game tape delayed at 10pm.
Who were your coaching mentors? Mike Eaves gave me an opportunity to walk-on at Wisconsin. It was a love/hate relationship with Eaves…he was incredibly demanding. Trent Yawney in pro hockey was my head coach. Cal Roadhouse went out of his way to help me.
Did anyone in your family play hockey? No.
How did you start playing hockey? Both my parents went to UW and became Badgers hockey fans. Then while my dad was doing his residency in Philadelphia he became a Flyers fan. At age 5 I got skates and started playing.
What sports did you play growing up? Soccer, hockey, tennis, volleyball. I was recruited by Ohio State, UCLA and Pepperdine to play D-1 volleyball.
Did playing multiple sports help you in hockey? Yes. Definitely. Sometimes the hockey world specializes too early. I love recruiting multi-sport athletes.
How would you describe the experience playing for the Badgers? Best four years of my life. I entered Wisconsin mid-season, late January, as a walk-on. They lost a player so they had a roster spot open. I was released by my USHL team, I was back home not enrolled in college and planning to go to school and not play hockey. Badgers contacted me and Eaves gave me a chance to walk on. The season I came to Wisconsin they were the best team in the nation-we ended up winning the NCAA championship (2006). In my final season we made the Frozen Four again but lost in the championship to Boston College (2010).
What was it like playing professional hockey? It was awesome. I got to do a sport for a living. It was fantastic but it is second to playing for the Badgers. There’s something special about playing college because it’s not about the paycheck, we were all together. Being on campus, hanging out, there’s nothing like it.
What advice do you have for players that want to play after high school? You are stronger than you know. When you think you have worked hard enough you probably only gave 50% or 60%. You are more capable than your brain is telling you.
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John Mitchell’s perseverance is an inspiration for players told they are not good enough!
Yours for hockey, Matt Carey