Women’s Basketball – Lady Demons add Nicole Mitchell to coaching staff

NATCHITOCHES – For the first time in his three seasons at the helm of the Northwestern State women’s basketball program, coach Jordan Dupuy will have an altered coaching staff.

Dupuy announced the hiring of assistant coach Nicole Mitchell on Thursday, joining third-year associate head coach Deneen Parker and third-year assistant Olivia Grayson on the Lady Demons’ bench.

Mitchell’s hiring is subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, which includes Northwestern State.

Her background as a coach and player at Christopher Newport University, a Division III program in Virginia, made Mitchell a viable candidate to join Dupuy’s staff.

“After going through all of the applicants, Nicole emerge as one of the top candidates because of all the different hats she had to wear at Christopher Newport,” Dupuy said. “After our interviews and unbelievable recommendations from her references, it was clear that she would be the best fit for our staff.”

A 2014 Christopher Newport graduate in sociology, Mitchell spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater helping the Captains to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2017.

With Mitchell on staff, Christopher Newport posted a composite record of 54-8 and captured the first Capital Athletic Conference championship in program history. Mitchell helped develop Sam Porter into a preseason All-American, a first-team all-conference and all-state performer at Christopher Newport.

During her playing career, Mitchell helped lead Christopher Newport to a 105-19 record as well as the Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen rounds of the Division III national championship. A two-time team captain, Mitchell scored 1,262 career points, ranking her 13th on NCU’s all-time list.

She was an academic all-conference selection and a three-time all-conference player as well as a first-team, all-state pick on the VaSID team.

Mitchell began her coaching career at Hood College, where she earned her master’s degree in human sciences. She spent two seasons at Hood where she was responsible for coordinating all recruiting efforts, coaching post players and handled social media for the women’s basketball program.

In addition to stops at Christopher Newport and Hood College, Mitchell worked numerous camps at the college level, including at Maryland under former national championship coach Brenda Frese.

“She’s a winner, detailed, organized and meticulous in her approach in all that she does,” Dupuy said. “She will help us in all aspects of our program and also bring in a new recruiting region. I am excited to have her.”

Mitchell is a graduate of George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia, and a member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. During her high school career, Mitchell led George Mason to two state titles, was a two-time team captain and the state championship game MVP in 2009.