Warren Mitchell, a Limon and Colorado coaching legend, died on Friday at his hiome in Aurora, according to school officials.
Here’s some of his outstanding resume:
Warren W. “Mitch” Mitchell
LIMON HIGH SCHOOL
Boys’ Track & Field
Head Coach 1955-2010 – 56 Seasons
73 Individual (57) or Relay (16) State Champions of Limon’s 80 total to date
(15 State Records)
Team State Championships (12)
1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 2004, 2005
Runner-up Championships (4) – 1955, 1956, 1987, 2001
Boys’ Basketball
Head Coach 1953-1973 & 1983-1988 – 25 Seasons @ Limon
(Eads January 1952 – May 1953) – 1 ½ Seasons
Record @Limon: 373-155 (.706) in 528 games
Record @Eads: 26-7
TOTAL – 399-162 (.711)
State Championships (4) – 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964
Other State Tournament Places:
1963-Consolation Champion, 1970-3rd Place, 1984-Qualified
Total State Tournament Record 17-4 in 7 appearances.
Football
Head Coach 1979-1987 – 9 Seasons
Record: 64-35 in 99 games
State Championships (1) – 1979
Runner-Up Championship (1) – 1986
Playoff Record 6-6 (Qualified 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
Asst. Coach 1953-1978 – 26 Seasons
Baseball Coach – Limon High School 1954 (1 year)
Athletic Director – Limon High School 1999-2001 (2 years)
Teacher – Limon High School 1953-1988 (35 years)
Eads High School 1952-1953 (1 ½ years)
Total Years Coached Jan. 1952 – May 2010 (58 ½)
Honors & Awards
17 State Championships 5 Runner-Up’s
Warren Mitchell Events Center – Auxiliary Gym at Limon High School
Built & Dedicated October 4, 2001
Warren Mitchell Invitational Track Meet – Limon’s Badger Relays were started by Mitch in 1965 and renamed in his honor in 1993, they celebrated the 50th annual Invitational in 2014. The Meet is the premier H.S. meet in Eastern Colorado.
Colorado Sports HALL of FAME–Announced Fall 2014 to be inducted April 2015
NFHS – Nat’l. Federation of H.S. Assoc.’s HALL of FAME – 2008
NHSACA – Nat’l. H.S. Athletic Coaches Assoc. HALL of FAME – 1997
CHSAA – Colo. H.S. Activities Assoc. HALL of FAME – 2001
CHSCA – Colo. H.S. Coaches Assoc. HALL of FAME – 1986
NHSCA Nat’l. Coach of the Year – Boys Track – 2008
NHSACA Finalist for Nat’l. Coach of the Year – Boys Track – 2007
50 & 55 Year Coach Award – 1st Person to receive the 50 and 55 Year Coaching Awards from CHSCA
Dave Sanders Award – 2003 from The Denver Post
Don DesCombes Distinguished Service Award – 1984 from CHSCA
Tom Sutak Basketball Coaching Award – 1988 from CHSCA
Ed Lesar Football Coaching Award – 1982 from CHSCA
CHSCA established the Warren Mitchell Track Coaching Award in 2000
High Plains Educator Award – East Central BOCES
Coach – All-State Basketball Team – 1963 (Won)
Asst. Coach – All-State Football Team – 1984
NHSACA District 6 Track Coach of the Year – 1975, 78, 82, 86
Colo. Track Coach of the Year – 1971, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 84
All-Colorado Track Coach of the Year – 2005 Rocky Mtn. News
NHFS Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year – 2006 Boys Track
Honorary Alumni Award, Limon Alumni Assoc. – 1981
Limon’s Honorary L Club Member – 1992
Boards & Memberships
Board of Director District 6 – Nat’l. H.S. Athletic Coaches Assoc. 1984-88
President – Colo. H.S. Coaches Assoc. 1960/61 & 1984/85
Vice President – Colo. H.S. Coaches Assoc. 1959/60 & 1983/84
Secretary – Colo. H.S. Coaches Assoc. 1958/59 & 1982/83
Board Member Director Emeritus – Colo. H.S. Coaches Assoc. – 40+ years
Numerous Committees for CHSAA, CHSCA & Limon High School
Mitch was a graduate (Dec. 1951) of the Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, running on the Track team all four years and playing football one year for the Bears.
Mitch graduated form Denver West High School.
Born March 1, 1926
