Former Cornell player, Iowa City Regina coach named head coach at U. in Michigan; Father-in-law is AD, but . . .

We hired Mitch as a football coach here long before he became my son-in-law, and I knew him as an outstanding football coach and recruiter before I knew him as a son-in-law.--Grand Valley State University Athletic Director Tim SelgoI was here coaching and helping win national championships before I ever met Jen.--Matt Mitchell, named head coach Tuesday

--Grand Valley State University Athletic Director Tim Selgo

I was here coaching and helping win national championships before I ever met Jen.

--Matt Mitchell, named head coach Tuesday

More from MLive.com: Grand Valley State AD: Family ties not a factor in hiring of Matt Mitchell as football coach

From Gazette archives:

Regina's Mitchell heads to Wartburg - Thursday, March 30, 2000

IOWA CITY - First, the Iowa City Regina football program climbed the ladder.Then it was Matt Mitchell's turn.Mitchell, the young coach who brought energy and victories to a once-dormant Regina program, has taken a full-time assistant coaching position at Division III Wartburg College in Waverly.The Regals had suffered 10 straight losing seasons before Mitchell took over. In two years at Regina, Mitchell posted back-to-back 6-3 seasons."Ever since I got here, I was always trying to look to get into the college ranks," said Mitchell, a Cornell College graduate. "That's where I want to be."The departure came suddenly to the Regina players. Mitchell informed team members Tuesday."It was a little bit of a surprise to the kids," said Jeff Wallace, athletics director at Regina. "He already had been working hard in the weight room with the kids and had them excited and enthused about next year."Mitchell hopes his defensive coordinator at Regina, Aaron Truitt, will be his successor.Truitt, 24, prepped at Clear Creek-Amana and is Regina's wrestling coach.We'd definitely consider Aaron," Wallace said. "I haven't talked to him about that yet, and I don't know what his feelings are."Mitchell assumes his job at Wartburg June 1. He'll coach defense for the Knights, a playoff qualifier last year, under head coach Rick Willis.Mitchell also plans to take night classes at the University of Northern Iowa to get a master's degree in physical education."Eventually, I would like to move my way up and become a head coach for a Division III school or a smaller college," Mitchell said. "I really like the state of Iowa and I really like Iowa Conference football."

Author: Chad Leistikow, Gazette sportswriter

IOWA CITY - First, the Iowa City Regina football program climbed the ladder.

Then it was Matt Mitchell's turn.

Mitchell, the young coach who brought energy and victories to a once-dormant Regina program, has taken a full-time assistant coaching position at Division III Wartburg College in Waverly.

The Regals had suffered 10 straight losing seasons before Mitchell took over. In two years at Regina, Mitchell posted back-to-back 6-3 seasons.

"Ever since I got here, I was always trying to look to get into the college ranks," said Mitchell, a Cornell College graduate. "That's where I want to be."

The departure came suddenly to the Regina players. Mitchell informed team members Tuesday.

"It was a little bit of a surprise to the kids," said Jeff Wallace, athletics director at Regina. "He already had been working hard in the weight room with the kids and had them excited and enthused about next year."

Mitchell hopes his defensive coordinator at Regina, Aaron Truitt, will be his successor.

Truitt, 24, prepped at Clear Creek-Amana and is Regina's wrestling coach.

We'd definitely consider Aaron," Wallace said. "I haven't talked to him about that yet, and I don't know what his feelings are."

Mitchell assumes his job at Wartburg June 1. He'll coach defense for the Knights, a playoff qualifier last year, under head coach Rick Willis.

Mitchell also plans to take night classes at the University of Northern Iowa to get a master's degree in physical education.

"Eventually, I would like to move my way up and become a head coach for a Division III school or a smaller college," Mitchell said. "I really like the state of Iowa and I really like Iowa Conference football."

Mitchell ushers new era of football at I.C. Regina - Saturday, April 4, 1998

IOWA CITY - Matt Mitchell never anticipated being a head high school football coach at the tender age of 23, yet here he is taking the reins of the Regina Regals.Mitchell, a two-year assistant and science teacher at Regina, was chosen Friday to succeed Bob Larsen, who resigned last fall after three losing seasons."We'll bring in a new system," said Mitchell, a Colorado native who played football at Cornell College. "I learned a lot being an assistant here, but I'll also bring some things from the system I learned in college to this level. There's going to be some changes made."A defensive lineman at Cornell, Mitchell said he'll be on the phone with his former coach, looking for tips. Mitchell, an assistant baseball coach at Lisbon High School prior to coming to Regina, has never been a head coach."I'll be in contact with (Cornell Coach) Steve Miller," Mitchell said. "He was a great coach, a great mentor."Larsen's teams won just six games in three season, but three of those came in last year's 3-6 campaign. Returning from that squad are 10 of 11 starters on offense and nine of 11 on defense. "We only graduated two senior last year, so we have a lot of guys with playing experience," Mitchell said.The Regals will move from Class A to Class 1A next year and play in a district including perennial power West Branch, Alburnett and Winfield-Mount Union. Mitchell said he isn't concerned with won-loss records right now."I just want to get to the level where we are fundamentally sound and to where when opponents play us they realize that Regina has their system down and is going to put forth their maximum potential," Mitchell said. We'll put our best on the field. After that, I'll let the chips lay."

Author: John Shipley, Gazette Johnson County Bureau

IOWA CITY - Matt Mitchell never anticipated being a head high school football coach at the tender age of 23, yet here he is taking the reins of the Regina Regals.

Mitchell, a two-year assistant and science teacher at Regina, was chosen Friday to succeed Bob Larsen, who resigned last fall after three losing seasons.

"We'll bring in a new system," said Mitchell, a Colorado native who played football at Cornell College. "I learned a lot being an assistant here, but I'll also bring some things from the system I learned in college to this level. There's going to be some changes made."

A defensive lineman at Cornell, Mitchell said he'll be on the phone with his former coach, looking for tips. Mitchell, an assistant baseball coach at Lisbon High School prior to coming to Regina, has never been a head coach.

"I'll be in contact with (Cornell Coach) Steve Miller," Mitchell said. "He was a great coach, a great mentor."

Larsen's teams won just six games in three season, but three of those came in last year's 3-6 campaign. Returning from that squad are 10 of 11 starters on offense and nine of 11 on defense. "We only graduated two senior last year, so we have a lot of guys with playing experience," Mitchell said.

The Regals will move from Class A to Class 1A next year and play in a district including perennial power West Branch, Alburnett and Winfield-Mount Union. Mitchell said he isn't concerned with won-loss records right now.

"I just want to get to the level where we are fundamentally sound and to where when opponents play us they realize that Regina has their system down and is going to put forth their maximum potential," Mitchell said. We'll put our best on the field. After that, I'll let the chips lay."