Terri Mitchell’s dream to coach started all the way back in college.
While finishing up her playing days at Duquesne in Philadelphia, Mitchell realized that she had a desire to help out college kids.
“College is an amazing time to try to influence young lives,” Mitchell said. “To get that opportunity at 28 years old and do it at a prestigious university, I had no idea where it was going to go but I fell in love the first day I stepped on this campus (Marquette), and it continued for a long time.”
She came to Marquette in 1991, became the head coach in 1996 and led the Golden Eagles until 2014.
In those 18 years, Mitchell guided Marquette to four Conference USA regular season titles and the 2008 Women’s National Invitation Tournament Championship. Mitchell also led the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament six different times.
Mitchell was inducted into the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame on Saturday, an honor that was a long time coming for Marquette women’s basketball’s all-time wins leader (348).
Mitchell was honored between the first and second quarter of the Marquette women’s game against Butler on Saturday afternoon.
Former Marquette Women’s Basketball Coach Terri Mitchell (@CoachTerri8611) gets recognized for her induction into the M Club Hall of Fame during @MarquetteWBB‘s game against Butler. #muwbb pic.twitter.com/xPLkDIVIoo
— Marquette Wire Sports (@MUWireSports) January 28, 2024
Then at halftime, dozens of Marquette women’s basketball alumni were honored as well, many of whom were Mitchell’s former players.
“It’s a testament to the alumni who came out today, they surprised me,” Mitchell said. “They flew in from Florida, California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, to be here because Marquette means that much to them.”
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Mitchell has received countless awards in her coaching career, including being inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021. But she said that being inducted into the ‘M Club’ means something more.
“All the other awards have been great, but this one obviously means the most to me,” Mitchell said. “23 years of my life being here, and all the great women I’ve had the opportunity to coach, I’m the one getting the award, but it’s because of them.
“It’s because of everyone, the players, the staff who made me look good, that’s why this one means the most, Marquette has a special place in my heart.”
After her first win as the head coach of Marquette, a group of Mitchell’s friends made her a cake with a big number one on it, a gesture she hasn’t forgotten and one that taught her life lessons on how to treat people.
“I never forgot that, all these years later because they took the time to make my day special,” Mitchell said. “I remembered that, and since for me it has been, ‘How can I make other people’s day special, what can I do in my position as head coach to put a smile on someone’s face?’”
That win would just be the first for Mitchell, who continued her storied career for nearly two more decades.
This story was written by Matthew Baltz. He can be reached at matthew.baltz@marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @MatthewBaltzMU.