Deerfield-Windsor’s Gina Mitchell announces retirement

ALBANY — Deerfield-Windsor head girls basketball coach Gina Mitchell has informed her team and the school that she is retiring and will not be returning to coach next season.

“I’m going to do a lot of babysitting and help my husband around the farm,” Mitchell said during an interview Saturday. “I’ve got a new grandbaby coming any day now and another one due in August. That will make six and I want to be able to spend time with them as well as the rest of my family.”

Mitchell spent five seasons at the helm of the Deerfield-Windsor’s girls’ team and took the team to the state championship game three times. In five years at the Albany school, her teams compiled a 57-1 region record with an overall record of 116-25. Her teams won four region titles in those five years.

In her 21-year career, Mitchell won a total of 424 games and took 11 teams to the Final Four with three state runner-ups and five state championships.

“I just felt like it was time to go,” Mitchell said. “I wish we had won that last game to really go out on top but I really think now is the right time so I can spend time with my family and travel some.”

Family is vital to Mitchell. She put her coaching career on hold for 11 years to raise her children.

After starting as an assistant coach at Worth County High School, Mitchell waited those 11 years before taking a new position at Tiftarea Academy. From there, she spent four years at Sherwood Christian before taking the head coaching position at Crisp Academy near Cordele.

Some of her biggest moments came at Crisp Academy, where her teams won 64 consecutive region games, seven straight region titles and four straight state championships.

Deerfield-Windsor Headmaster Allen Lowe said interviews are underway to final a new coach for the Lady Knights.

“We have started the interview process and we have more planned after spring break,” Lowe said. “Hopefully, we will be able to find the right person and make a decision sometime in mid-April.

“Coach Mitchell is a good coach and did a great job,” said Lowe. “We wish her the best in her retirement and with her grandbabies.”

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorBy Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor