Between Two Desks with Matt Mitchell

Welcome to Between Two Desks, an interview series where St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. Dick Kaiser talks with Athletic Directors from around the league. Throughout the series get to learn more about each school's A.D., how they got to the position they are in, and why they love working in athletics. Today we meet Matt Mitchell, Athletic Director at Westminster College.

Twenty-three years ago, Matt Mitchell and his wife left the city lights of Jackson, Mississippi to become the head basketball coach of the Westminster College Blue Jays. Now more than two decades later, Mitchell still calls Fulton, Mo. his home as he continues to provide the athletic leadership for Westminster where he is currently the longest-tenured Athletic Director within the SLIAC.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Lexington, Mo. It was a small 3A school back in the day with maybe 120-150 students per class at Lexington High School. I was an athletic kid that played every sport throughout my upbringing. I was always organizing the next event and made sure we all had plenty to do.

Did you participate in sports in high school?
In high school, I played football, basketball, and baseball. My dad was a baseball guy so baseball was number one in our household but it wasn't necessarily my favorite. As a kid, I was never home but always out playing something, someplace in town. Lexington had a really good run of state football championships over about 20 years and I was fortunate to be part of a high school football state championship in 1980 where I played quarterback and safety. Basketball was my true love and I did have some success as a team and individual player where I was voted to the All-State team a couple of times.

Where did you attend college and did you play college sports?
After high school, I was given the opportunity to attend Valparaiso University to play basketball. I attended for two years and then made the decision that I wanted to coach for my future so I decided to look for a school that would provide me with the necessary skills to get into the coaching profession.  I transferred to the University of Arkansas and eventually graduated as a Razorback and was a player on the basketball team till my graduation. I wasn't a star player, but being on the team and learning from coaches like Nolan Richardson and Eddie Sutton really helped in formulating my skills toward wanting to be a coach.

What convinced you to go into athletics as a profession?
It's kind of interesting, but I think my ambition to be a coach was fueled by the Valparaiso coach. After I transferred to Arkansas, I learned from two of the best coaches in the history of college basketball in Sutton and Richardson. Both coaches had specific attributes that were invaluable in my learning curve. Sutton was a great tactician and very detailed in his organization while Richardson had such a high level of energy and super positiveness, After I graduated from Arkansas, I went to Western Illinois as a graduate assistant for 2 years and I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Within your resume, what were some of the more important stops in your professional career?
My first full-time job was at Rhodes College and I served as the cross- country coach and assistant basketball coach. During my one year at Rhodes, I met my wife (Venita) and we've been together ever since. I also served two years at Johnson County Community College where I was in charge of student-activities and the director of housing. Interesting, I was the director of campus housing but we didn't have any on-campus dorms. My last stop before I landed at Westminster was at Millsaps College where I served as the men's and women's tennis coach as well as assistant men's basketball. We were at Millsaps for five years before the Westminster head job opened and we have been here ever since.

Are there any specific individuals that feel were great mentors that helped you along the way?
Al Grushkin at Western Illinois taught me about networking and moving my career forward. His friendship has been invaluable in my career. The second individual would be Herb Hilgeman, the head basketball coach at Rhodes. He more than anyone, taught me what it was like at a D-III institution and how to be successful. He always reminded me to treat everyone at the small college level with respect and be willing to do the small things in the program that may seem degrading to some. His message was always be nice to people. 

What experiences along the way best prepared you to become an Athletic Director?
I think my experiences coaching so many sports like cross country, tennis and others gave me a real understanding of what it took to be successful in other sports besides basketball. I think I saw the big picture of the entire athletic department much clearer. I also think all my different experiences and responsibilities along the way with having to juggle so many jobs helped me to become a good organizer and how to deal with people. Those two attributes have been invaluable in my career.

What do you find most rewarding about your current Athletic Director position?
First, I really enjoy getting people started in their careers. It is great satisfaction when you know you have helped someone get their first real job or opportunity. Secondly, I think I have received some very personal rewards through the development and understanding that not everyone sees the world through my lens. I have become more understanding, more tolerant, and willing to compromise more now than maybe earlier in my career when ego probably played a bigger role.

Not counting the pandemic, what have you found to be the most taxing as it relates to your position?
In my role at Westminster, I have had the opportunity to get involved in a lot of different responsibilities and therefore I have worked with a lot of different campus entities. What drains my battery the most is when people outside of my bubble try to help me make decisions. I am always willing to listen but depending on who or where the advice is coming from might be the determining factor of if I need to draw a line in the sand and stand up for what I believe.

As a coach or administrator, what has been a real highlight in your career?
Probably the development of my family brings my biggest smile. After that, anytime I can help an athlete or student get a job, that is very rewarding to me. I love seeing former players and athletes later in life and talking with them about their successes. I feel we have developed a culture at Westminster where we try to do things the right way, whether that be with students-athletics or staff. Watching men and women of Westminster mature and become successful is really a highlight to me.

What advice would you give to every student-athlete about their college experience?
I think it's most important to use college as a springboard to create and generate friendships. These individuals will be life-long friends so go out of your way to meet everyone. Secondly, I would encourage every student-athlete to get involved in all aspects of college. I encourage them to not just be an athlete but get involved in student government, fraternities-sororities, and clubs. College is the best time to start to build your resume and the best time to learn how to deal with people.

Finally, as we close this Q & A, please tell me about your family.
Venita, my wife is much smarter than me. She has been the Vice-President and Dean of Students at William Woods College for over 20 years. Bailey, my daughter, is my oldest child and a graduate of William & Mary.  She is definitely an overachiever in the family as she works in the field of analytics, which is way more than I can understand. Kalin, my son, is out on his own and in the middle of his educational experience while he works full-time. I am really proud of both of my kids.

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