Alabama A&M baseball coach Demetrius Mitchell has been elevated to interim head coach, Director of Athletics Betty Austin announced earlier in the week. Mitchell, who spent the 2009 season helping to revitalize the Bulldog baseball program with then-head coach Jay Martin, assumes the duties after Martin resigned to focus on his football coaching duties at A&M following the season this spring. The 2009 season saw the Bulldogs qualify for the SWAC Tournament for the first time since 2000, and score benchmark series wins over Alcorn State and Jackson State, plus the school's first-ever win over UAH.

The Birmingham, Ala. native (West End High School) has an extensive baseball resume, not only as a player, but in player development and evaluation circles among many Major League contacts.  Before coming to “The Hill,” Mitchell served as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and in player development in the Chicago White Sox organization.

 

Among his many contacts at the Major League level, Mitchell has professional relationships with current MLB managers such as the Texas Rangers’ Ron Washington and the Cincinnati Reds’ Dusty Baker, who have contributed both their knowledge and support in Mitchell’s coaching stops.  Former major league reliever Tom Gordon and current New York Mets third-base coach Razor Shines are also close friends and have made contributions to Mitchell’s baseball success.

 

Among his coaching accomplishments, Mitchell led Huffman High School to three Birmingham city championships.

After playing two seasons at Wallace State in 1996, Mitchell turned down a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles and took his skills to Jackson State, where he earned SWAC Pitcher of the Year honors in the 1999 season. Mitchell graduated from JSU with a degree is health, physical education, and recreation.  He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in P.E. at Alabama A&M.