MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner University is proud to welcome back a familiar face to its women's basketball program. Former standout player and longtime assistant coach Jake Mitchell will rejoin the Lady Eagles as a member of Head Coach Jacob Roark's staff, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to service.
"I'm excited to announce the addition of Jake Mitchell to our Faulkner Women's Basketball coaching staff, " said Coach Jacob Roark. "Jake is a man of strong faith, a devoted family man, and someone who has invested nearly a decade into the Faulkner community. With over 10 years of coaching experience at the college level, he brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a deep passion for developing student-athletes on and off the court. His heart for this university and its mission makes him an incredible fit, and we're grateful to have him join our program."
"We're excited about the opportunity to come back to Faulkner," Mitchell said. "Faulkner has already meant so much to me and my family, so we're excited to be coming back to help serve the Faulkner community."
The return to Montgomery comes at a crucial moment for Mitchell and his family. His wife, Emma, has recently accepted a faculty position at Faulkner's Law School, making the opportunity to rejoin the athletics department particularly timely.
"When Coach Ro asked me if I would be interested in coming back to help him, it just made sense," Mitchell said."Emma and I have grown to love and appreciate him and his family, so it will be a fun opportunity to work for him."
Mitchell's new role with the program will focus on service, a quality that has characterized his career both on and off the court.
"I just want to help in any way I can," he said. "I know my role is to serve Coach Ro and all the girls who are a part of the Faulkner women's basketball program. I plan on using my experience to do just that."
Mitchell's history with Faulkner runs deep. As a player from 2010 to 2014, he made his mark as a standout guard under Head Coach Jim Sanderson. Over his four-year career, Mitchell scored 1,049 points, dished out 449 assists, pulled down 349 rebounds, and recorded 155 steals. His junior season was a breakout year, earning All-SSAC honors while helping lead the Eagles to a 29-6 record, a Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament title, and a Round of 16 appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
His collegiate accolades also include All-Freshman honors in 2010-11, All-Division recognition in his sophomore and senior seasons, and Champion of Character honors in 2012-13. He was named to the All-Academic Team for three consecutive years. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Faulkner in 2015, followed by a Master's degree in kinesiology from Harding University in 2016.
His coaching journey began during the 2014–15 season as a student assistant under Scott Sanderson, then in his first year leading the Faulkner men's program. From there, Mitchell moved to Harding University, where he spent a season as a graduate assistant and helped guide the Bisons to a Regular Season Conference Championship and an NCAA Division II Tournament berth.
Mitchell returned to Faulkner from 2016 to 2018 as an assistant for the women's program under Coach Reed Sutton. In his two-year tenure, the Lady Eagles improved from 13 wins to 19 in year one. In the second season, they reached 26 wins and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
In 2018, he joined Freed-Hardeman University as an assistant men's coach, reuniting with his former coach Jim Sanderson. After spending three seasons at Freed, including time under current FHU Head Coach Drew Stutts, Mitchell was brought back to Faulkner by Scott Sanderson in 2021 for a second stint with the men's program.
Following his time at Faulkner, Mitchell moved to the high school level, serving as the head boys' basketball coach at Alabama Christian Academy for one season before accepting the same role at Fayette County High School.
Mitchell's return to the Faulkner family is more than a coaching move. It's a homecoming.
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