Heart and soul of Simsboro

When Adam Wodach encapsulates Gavin Mitchell’s impact on Simsboro High School and its boys basketball program, he can only think on the grandest scale.

It’s the only way for him to describe Mitchell – a friend he views as not just an irreplaceable resource for the basketball team, but the entire school community. When you spend your whole life serving Simsboro like Mitchell has, once as a player and now as an assistant basketball coach and school resource officer, perhaps Wodach had no choice but to think big about a reach that touches as many lives as Mitchell has.

“I would say he’s the heart and soul of Simsboro,” Wodach said. “He embodies what it means to be a Tiger. He’s who I want around our program. He’s been such a great mentor to me. I’ve been blessed to not only work side by side with him, but he’s taught me something new every day.”

High praise for a head coach always trying find team success on the court, never one to just highlight the top scorer. If there’s specific credit to dish out to the program at-large, Wodach is John Stockton. But for Mitchell, he’ll make an exception.

“He’s the most important part of our program in my opinion. I don’t like to say it’s one person, but I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” Wodach said. "He makes our school go.”

What makes Mitchell worthy of the praise? It’s a genuine love for Simsboro, its student body, and a basketball program that has always been part of his DNA.

Serving Simsboro comes naturally to Mitchell. After all, it’s his home. He attended K-12 schooling and learned to love basketball in the community. He knows most parents, administrators, and workers by their first names. It’s his comfort zone.

It always has been, especially when he became a varsity basketball star for Simsboro.

In 2008, as a scrappy senior looking to pursue a basketball future, Mitchell came up with one of the greatest games in school history.

He scored 35 points in a comeback road win over Centerville to lead Simsboro back to the state tournament for first time since 1995 – scoring 20 in the fourth quarter.

Lance Waldron remembers that day well, serving as head coach of the Tigers from 2006-15. After coaching Mitchell from 2006-08, Waldron, now the head coach at Cedar Creek, isn’t surprised to see his former guard continue to have an impact in the community that shaped him.

“Gavin is one of the all-time greats to ever play at Simsboro,” Waldron said. “ With his skill, athleticism, and leadership qualities he helped put Simsboro back on the map after a 13- year drought of making the final four.”

For Mitchell, serving Simsboro is his passion.

“Being from the community, about 80 to 90 percent of the boys that come out, I know them on a personal level,” Mitchell said. “I know them, or I know their parents. It’s easy for them to relate to me. I’m not that old. I have kids their age. When I tell them something, they know it’s coming from a good place. It’s an honor to come back to my community, my alma mater, and get that respect. I’m living the dream.”

After two years in junior college and semi-pro basketball, his dream of playing in the NBA didn’t materialize. But Mitchell’s backup plan was already set in motion. And like most choices in his life, he focused on his community and how to help others.

Mitchell just finished his first year as Simsboro’s school resource officer, spending his days walking the halls he once did to build connections with students and break down barriers between police and young kids.

With 11 years in law enforcement, Mitchell has seen hearts and minds change in the school.

“I always told myself if I didn’t make it to the NBA, I was going to be a cop. I’m a cop,” Mitchell said. “That was always my plan and I stuck to it. This day and age, kids don’t like the police. For them to see I can get on their level and connect with me, it’s a plus and it breaks the feeling around law enforcement hopefully.”

Wodach has seen Mitchell’s impact on the student body daily and believes the Tigers are lucky to have someone like him who’s spent his life helping his hometown.

“Having him on campus every single day is the most valuable thing our campus has,” Wodach said. “I believe that to my core. He has a connection to these kids that is special. He wants what’s best for them but he’s fair. He holds them accountable.”

But don’t let the badge and vest fool you. Mitchell hasn’t forgotten his playing days and what it takes to have success on the court.

During games, you’ll find, and often hear, Mitchell on the sideline. He’ll walk the tightrope of giving praise and scrutiny to the Tigers. When you love something as much as he loves Simsboro basketball, Mitchell isn’t shy about maintaining a high standard on and off the floor of how players should carry themselves.

“I never left the game. Since I graduated, I probably missed one year. I always came back, and I traveled with the team,” Mitchell said. I’ve been a part of every Simsboro team we’ve had since I’ve graduated. I never thought about coaching, but I’ve always wanted to help.

“Kids in this day and age, it’s very challenging for you to come be a new coach and new person and try to tell them something,” Mitchell added. “Sometimes they don’t always grasp it. With me being familiar with them outside of coaching, it makes my job that much easier.”