Reggie Mitchell

Last College: Central Michigan, 1981 Position: Running Backs Coach

Reggie Mitchell is entering his fourth season at Kansas, where he serves as the running backs coach. Mitchell came to KU after five successful seasons at Illinois. He previously coached at KU under Glen Mason from 1988-96.

Mitchell coached two Jayhawks to All-Big 12 honors in 2012. Junior James Sims, who became the 11th player in KU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, finished the 2012 season leading the Big 12 in rushing yards per game. Sims was named first team All-Big 12 by ESPN.com, Phil Steele Magazine and CBSSports.com, while he picked up second team All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches and the Associated Press. Sophomore Tony Pierson earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches and the Associated Press. Pierson had 760 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground, including a career-best 202 yard outing at Texas Tech. The East St. Louis, Ill., native also caught 21 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

From 1988-94 Mitchell worked with the Jayhawk defensive linemen, focusing on the defensive ends from 1991-94. He then switched to the offensive side of the ball to coach running backs in 1995 and 1996. He coached June Henley, who earned All-Big 12 Second-Team honors in 1996.

While Mitchell was at KU, the Jayhawks played in the 1992 and 1995 Aloha Bowls. KU produced four winning seasons in his tenure after recording just one in the previous 11 years.

He left for Minnesota with Mason and coached the Gophers' running backs in 1997 and 1998. Mitchell then coached at Michigan State from 1999-2004, mentoring the wide receivers in 1999 and the running backs for five seasons. He also served as the Spartans' recruiting coordinator from 2000-04.

Mitchell was then named the assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator/running backs coach at Illinois in 2005. He spent five years in that role and helped the Illini win Big Ten rushing titles in 2006 and 2007, while the offense recorded consecutive 5,000-yard total offense seasons.

In 2009 Illinois ranked 18th in the nation in rushing. In 2007 Mitchell's running back corps featured Rashard Mendenhall, who set school records for single-season rushing yards (1,681) and rushing touchdowns (17) en route to being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a first-round NFL draft pick.

The 2006 Illini led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in the NCAA with 188.8 rushing yards per game.

As a recruiter Mitchell has earned numerous accolades from Rivals.com.

He began his coaching career at Central Michigan (1983) before heading to Ferris State (1984), Michigan (1985), Western Michigan (1986) and Kent State (1987) and then establishing himself at Kansas.

Mitchell was a four-year starter as a running back at Central Michigan from 1978-81. He rushed for 2,394 yards in his career and helped the Chippewas win back-to-back Mid-America Conference titles in 1979 and 1980. He rushed for 1,068 yards as a senior.

He earned a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation from Central Michigan in 1984. Mitchell and his wife Andrea have three children, son Kaeman and daughters Karena and Jennifer.