As Spokane officials honored Jeff and Becky Mitchem on Wednesday, one couldn’t help but wonder exactly how special their coaching careers have been.
The Missouri State High Schools Activities Association does not document in its records book a standard for most years coaching in any sport. Before the Mitchems are through, and with a little homework by historians, Jeff and Becky may be able to lay claim to that distinction.
Jeff began his 46th year coaching last week, as Spokane’s cross country teams opened practices. His wife, Becky, started her 43rd year coaching alongside him.
All but two years of Jeff’s career has seen him leading the Owls and Becky’s entire career has seen her at Spokane. Spokane officials recognized the Mitchems by naming the school’s track in their honor during a ceremony that included many of their former athletes.
“I don't know if there is any record out there. But there probably are some coaches who have gone 50 years,” Mitchem said. “I do know I loved it when Terry Writer came here (as basketball coach) last year because I wasn't the oldest coach here anymore.”
Not even a veteran the likes of Writer can match the Mitchems’ continuous longevity. Writer started coaching in 1971, but stepped away from coaching for 10 years and thus is only preparing for his 39th year courtside.
Jeff Mitchem long ago passed legendary football coaches Bob Shore and Pete Adkins. Adkins coached 44 years, including 37 at Jefferson City, while Shore coached 42 years, including 35 at Camdenton.
Nationally, John McKissick coached 62 years from 1952-2014 at Summerville, South Carolina.
The Mitchems welcome speculation they both could extend their career to 50 years.
“We might as well go for 50,” Jeff said. “I don't see quitting any time in the future as long as I can keep my health good and so far so good. It's not work when you enjoy what you are doing. I'm enthused and ready to go every year.”
He added coaching with his wife has helped keep his desire to coach strong.
“I don't know if I would want to continue coaching if she wasn't doing it, too,” Jeff said. “She's thought a few times about not doing it. But then she gets enthused about it. We always get excited every track season.
“Ten years ago, I thought, 'I might do this for just another few years,’” he added. “But every year good athletes come along and I think, 'I really need to keep coaching.' We've got kids in high school and junior high who could be state champions. It's hard to give up on them. We always have kids who say to us, 'Don't quit until after I graduate.’”
The Mitchems are coaching long after retiring from their teaching positions. Becky retired in 2006 and Jeff retired in 2007. Jeff was Spokane’s athletic director for 28 years.
“We're so fortunate that the school allowed us to keep coaching after we retired,” Becky said. “That doesn't happen at a lot of schools, I think, because they want to give their own employees a chance (to coach). But at a lot of small schools there aren't enough employees to go around.”
When the Mitchems, who are both originally from Cabool, arrived in Spokane, they made up the entire coaching staff for the Owls and Lady Owls in every sport on the high school and junior high levels. They eventually made track and cross country their niche.
“I was totally basketball when I started coaching, but gradually shifted to track and cross country and fell in love with it,” Jeff said.
Over the years, the Mitchems have coached numerous individuals who enjoyed success at the state level. Many of those Spokane grads passed along their thanks to the Mitchems by attending Wednesday’s ceremony or sending video messages, e-mails or texts.
Tim Bischel, a state high jump champion in 1984, traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio, to speak of the Mitchems’ impact on him.
“I’ve said hundreds of times over the years that I learned more from my high school coach than I did in the classroom,” Bishcel said.
When Spokane grad and Owls baseball coach Mike Essick asked those in attendance who were coached by the Mitchems to stand, the majority of those on hand hand rose to their feet. Some entire families stood.
“That was overwhelming,” Jeff said of the number of former Owls and Lady Owls in attendance. “We are coaching a lot of kids of kids we coached and the past two years we have coached grandkids of kids we coached.”
