Jalie Mitchell

Position: Head Coach Alma Mater: North Texas, 2002 Graduated: '02

Jalie Mitchell concluded her third season as the head coach of her alma mater by leading North Texas to its most wins in 12 years and its best finish in a conference tournament in 16 years.

In 2017-18, the Mean Green finished with a 17-14 record, their first winning season in 12 years. In the Conference USA Tournament, UNT reached the semifinals for the first time since Mitchell's senior season in 2001-02. 

They defeated Charlotte twice, a program they'd never beaten until 2018, and in the C-USA quarterfinals they beat Louisiana Tech for the first time in school history as well.

Also in her third season, Mitchell guided junior guard Terriell Bradley to an all-conference first-team honor, the program's first in nine years and just its third in 15 years. In addition, freshman Lauren Holmes was named to the conference's all-freshman team.

In each of her three seasons at North Texas, Mitchell has improved on the program's previous record, more than doubling the win total in her first season in 2015-16. 

In her first season, Mitchell took over a program that had won five games the previous season. For her first career win as a head coach, the Mean Green beat the No. 17 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Oklahoma. It was the first time a Mean Green team had beaten a ranked opponent in program history.

In 2016-17, the Mean Green improved on their overall record by a game and set program records and firsts. They won eight Conference USA games, the most since they joined the conference in 2013-14. They defeated UTEP in El Paso for the first time in program history and they reached the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament for the first time as well.

When hired, Mitchell described North Texas as her dream job. The 2002 Mean Green graduate is the program’s greatest player and boasts numerous records as a four-year letter winner. She is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,764 points and tops the list of career free throws made and attempted. In 2002, Mitchell was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year when she averaged 19.4 points per game.

She earned all-conference honors all four years at North Texas and was a part of the winningest senior class in program history, compiling a 77-39 record -- including a 42-4 mark at the Super Pit -- and making back-to-back WNIT appearances in 2001 and 2002.

Mitchell’s No. 44 is one of two women’s basketball numbers that has been retired by the Mean Green and her spectacular playing career culminated in 2007 when she was inducted into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame.

Under Mitchell, North Texas has had a noticeable increase in offense and defense. In her first season, the Mean Green improved their field goal percentage by 7.23 percent — the largest improvement in the country. It was also the sixth-highest shooting percentage in North Texas history. In total, the Mean Green averaged nearly 10 more points per game in 2015-16 than the year before. In 2016-17, North Texas held conference opponents to 62.9 points per game and typically held the opposition’s leading scorer to 10 or more points below their season average.

Prior to becoming the Mean Green’s head coach, Mitchell had two stints as an assistant in Denton. Most recently under then head coach Karen Aston for the 2011-12 campaign. In that campaign, the team went 15-16.

When Aston left the Mean Green to coach the University of Texas in 2012, Mitchell followed. In her three seasons at Texas, the team combined for a 60-41 overall record. The Longhorns made the NCAA Tournament field the last two seasons, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2015 -- their first since 2008.

Mitchell began her collegiate coaching career in 2008 as an assistant coach with the Mean Green under Shanice Stephens. She spent two seasons at North Texas under Stephens before taking on the same position at UNC-Wilmington for the 2010-11 season. Mitchell helped the Seahawks finish with a 24-9 record and reach the second round of the WNIT, both program bests.

In addition to the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame, Mitchell was inducted into the Duncanville ISD Athletic Hall of Honor in October of 2015.


WHAT THEY'RE SAYING...

"This is a terrific hire for North Texas, and I am so thrilled for Jalie. She is a rising star in our profession and truly cares not only about winning, but also developing young women. During my time with her over the past four seasons, her commitment was always to the student-athlete first. Jalie is a tremendous recruiter and someone who will embrace helping players achieve their goals, may it be academically or athletically. I am so appreciative of her commitment to helping Texas become successful, and more importantly, I am so proud of her, personally and professionally." -- Karen Aston, Head Coach, University of Texas

"Jalie Mitchell is going to make a fantastic head coach at this level. She is an incredible recruiter and she can connect with student-athletes on a level that not many coaches can get to. I think this is a great opportunity and I'm extremely proud of her going to North Texas, a place where she has so much passion for that program. The president and athletic director showed great foresight and commitment by bringing in a young, passionate individual like Jalie. I'm looking forward to what she will bring to North Texas women's basketball." -- Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, WNBA Hall of Famer, Former Head Coach, USC

"Jalie is not only one of the greatest players to ever play at North Texas, but one of the greatest people I have coached throughout the years. Her leadership, vision and loyalty to North Texas women's basketball will be demonstrated in her everyday process. Jalie is a class act and I am proud of her and excited for the future of the program." -- Tina Slinker, former Head Coach, University of North Texas, 1989-2008