Former Taft head basketball coach Mark Mitchell dies

Longtime Cincinnati basketball coach Mark Mitchell has passed away, the Enquirer has confirmed.

Mitchell had been the head men’s basketball coach at Wilberforce University for the past four seasons before being let go after the end of this past season. Wilberforce is an NAIA school in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Mitchell is the father of WNBA player Kelsey Mitchell, who is a Princeton High School graduate and former Ohio State standout. She is preparing for the upcoming season with the Indiana Fever.

Mark Mitchell was a women's assistant coach at Ohio State from 2013 to 2018.

Mitchell was previously the head coach of Taft for 11 seasons starting in 2003 until he coached at Ohio State. His 2011 Taft team went 25-1 and won the Division III state championship.

Mitchell returned to coaching preps in Cincinnati in 2018 as the head coach at Western Hills High School.

Several local coaches posted on social media Tuesday afternoon.

McNicholas head boys basketball coach Tim Monahan posted on X: “Was a great person and coach. After his Taft team beat us in ’13 tourney he gave us a chance to play during the season. By far one of the best additions to our schedule and all because he gave us a chance. Always well coached and prepared.”

Monday morning, less than 24 hours before his death, Mark Mitchell posted a highlight clip of his daughter Kelsey playing for the Fever on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Taft head basketball coach Mark Mitchell has died