Jim Mitchell coached the Royals seven seasons

Jim Mitchell was hired as Mason County's third head coach in May of 1966. Mitchell was a standout player at Lafayette High School in Lexington. He served in the Army in Europe from 1951-53. In 1951 Mitchell made the all-Army finals in the Olympic Trials for the 440-yard run. He lettered in basketball, baseball and track at Eastern Kentucky State College. Mitchell was a teacher and athletic director at Berea High School, then a teacher and coach at Harrodsburg High School before moving to Vevay, Indiana in 1963. Mitchell came to Mason County from Vevay and coached the Royals seven seasons compiling a 160-74 record. Six of his teams won 20 or more games. The 1971-72 team won 30 games- a school record at the time. Mitchell guided the Royals to four district titles and three runner-up finishes in the 10th Region Tournament. Mason County had its first losing season (8-21) in 1972-73 and Mitchell resigned on May 14, 1973. Mitchell had a lot of success after leaving Mason County. He was the head coach at Southwestern High School in Hanover, Indiana for two seasons and was an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati under Coach Gale Catlett for two seasons before being named head basketball coach at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan in 1976. He later served as head basketball coach and athletic director at Scott High School and was a scout for the Los Angles Clippers for many years.

(Photo from a Mason County Yearbook)