By Derrick Smith

There is one thing that drives D’Antae Mitchell’s passion for coaching. He loves seeing other people succeed, no matter what they choose to do. And this is nothing new for him.

“Anyone that knows me knows I’m a big kid in heart and I really care about my players,” he said. “And every kid in our high school and school for that matter. I want everyone to be successful in whatever they do.”

Mitchell is the head softball coach at Putnam City North High School, a position he has held for five years. He has four daughters; Ariah, Aiyana, Aliyah, and Jaymes. His family has always been an important part of D’Antae’s life and it has helped him become who he is today.

“The biggest influences in my life were my mother Christiann, uncle Ronnie, and my grandma Frankie,” he stated. “My mother and grandmother raised me and they taught me the values in life and how to treat and love all types of people. My uncle Ronnie taught me mental toughness through football and he pushed me to the limit and helped make me tough, both mentally and physically. I was so blessed to have them in my life, especially those two strong women.”

He had his first taste of coaching in little league, but that was all it took and he was hooked. 

“I coached my nephew’s little league football team before I had kids of my own,” he said. “My best friend, Derek Lane, gave me my first high school job coaching freshman defensive backs at Yukon High School. I stuck with it and then came back to my alma mater, Putnam City North.”

Being a successful coach is more than just wins and losses. For Mitchell, it is about the impact you make on young lives. 

“You have to be a good listener, hold your players accountable, build relationships with your team, set goals, and be patient. These high school student athletes all come from different upbringings. Those are the things that have worked for me.”