Mitch Cole was named the 12th head coach in Birmingham-Southernhistory in July of 2006. After serving 11 seasons as an assistantunder Hall of Fame Coach Duane Reboul, Cole was charged withrebuilding the BSC Basketball program from scratch as a result ofBSC's transition from NCAA Div. I to Div. III. After starting witha team of freshman in the fall of 2007 Cole has quickly built aChampionship program and has helped restore the winning traditionof Birmingham Southern Basketball.
In only his 4th season (2010-2011), Cole led BSC to the SCACRegular Season Conference Championship and a 23-4 record (14-2SCAC). The Panthers also won the Championship of the NCAA Div. IIIProvisional Tournament in Steubenville, OH. As a result of theteam's success, Cole was named D3hoops.com South Region Coach ofthe Year in 2011.
In 2009-2010 Cole's Panthers captured the SCAC East Division titlewhile amassing the best overall record in the conference (20-5). Inits last two seasons, Cole's teams have led the SCAC in scoring (77ppg) and several different statistical categories.
A coaching veteran on the Hilltop, Cole has been instrumental inthe success of the program, which has amassed over 300 wins duringhis tenure at BSC. From 1996-2000, the Panthers made fiveconsecutive trips to the NAIA National Tournament. Cole helpeddirect an offense that was ranked No. 1 in the nation inthree-point field goal percentage during the 96-97, 97-98, and98-99 seasons. The Panthers continually ranked in the top five infield goal percentage, and led the nation in 1997-98. Afterrecruiting and developing numerous All-Conference and All-Americanperformers in the NAIA, Cole assisted in the transition to NCAADivision I. Recruiting with a ban on post-season play for fiveseasons, Cole still managed to successfully recruit and developplayers who would propel BSC into immediate success in DivisionI.
After achieving a 19-9 record in 2002-03, the Panthers went 20-7in 2003-04, winning the Big South Conference Regular SeasonChampionship. That same year, the Panthers led the NCAA inthree-point field goal percentage (43%). BSC would go 16-14 and19-9 in its last two seasons in Division I. Cole has beeninstrumental in recruiting and developing true student-athletes whoare serious about academics and life after basketball. The programgained national attention by ranking No. 1 in NCAA Division I forgraduation rates in the sport of men's basketball (100%) forathletes enrolling from 1997-2000.
Before arriving at BSC in 1995, Cole received his Master's ofEducation from Auburn University. While there, he worked as agraduate assistant with the basketball program under Cliff Ellis,working with the team in the areas of player development andstrength and conditioning.
Prior to his stint at Auburn, Cole began his career as avolunteer assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana University in1992. While serving at the Hammond, La., school, Cole'sresponsibilities included floor coaching, scouting opponents, andadministrative duties.
In the summer of 1993, Cole coached an Athletes in Action teamwhich toured the Philippines and competed against both professionaland college teams throughout the country. Cole has conductedbasketball clinics in the Philippines, Spain, Venezuela, Germanyand Latvia, and has helped numerous BSC players continue theirplaying careers professionally overseas
In the off-season, Cole directs BSC's Summer Basketball Camps,attracting thousands of young people to the campus to develop theirbasketball skills. A student of the game, Cole began the SouthernBasketball Coaching Academy, which has attracted high school,college, and pro coaches from around the nation to the Hilltop toexchange ideas on coaching philosophy and leadership.
A New Orleans, La., native, Cole graduated from Holy Cross HighSchool. He played college ball at Montana StateUniversity-Billings, where he earned a B.S. degree in Education,majoring in History and Political science in 1992. He and his wife,Amy, have three children: daughter Laura Katherine (8) and sonsCarson (6) and Joshua (2).
