{{Short description|American basketball player-coach}} {{other people|named=born as|Ronald Mitchell}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Fang Mitchell | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|2|8}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = {{nowrap|Thomas Edison State College}}<br />Coppin State University | player_years1 = 1969–1971 | player_team1 = Gloucester County CC | coach_years1 = 1978–1986 | coach_team1 = Gloucester County CC | coach_years2 = 1986–2014 | coach_team2 = Coppin State | overall_record = 429–417 (college)<br />227–46 (junior college) | bowl_record = | tournament_record = 1–4 (NCAA Division I)<br />1–2 (NIT) | championships = 10 MEAC regular season (1990, 1991, 1993–1999, 2004)<br />4 MEAC tournament (1990, 1993, 1997, 2008) | awards = 6× MEAC Coach of the Year (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2004) | coaching_records = }}
'''Ronald L. "Fang" Mitchell''' (born February 8, 1948) is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Coppin State University.
==Early life, education, and business career== Born in Philadelphia and raised in Camden, New Jersey, Mitchell graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden. Because he could not afford college, Mitchell worked factory and service jobs before attending Gloucester County College. Mitchell played on the Gloucester basketball team while also working the night shift as a computer operator at a bank.<ref name="Coppin bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.coppinstatesports.com/ssp/mbskt-coaches?id=1|title=Ron "Fang" Mitchell|publisher=Coppin State University|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329095352/http://www.coppinstatesports.com/ssp/mbskt-coaches?id=1|archivedate=March 29, 2014|date=2012}}</ref>
Mitchell then attended Rutgers University–Camden for a year, before embarking on a business career. He worked as a shoe company manager and printing sales representative. In Glassboro, New Jersey, Mitchell founded a clothing store, Mr. Fang's Athletic Attire, which expanded from one to three locations.<ref name="Coppin bio"/><ref name="big time 1989">{{cite web|last1=Jensen|first1=Mike|title='Fang' Coach Taking Coppin State To The Big Time|url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-05/sports/26150428_1_ron-fang-mitchell-philadelphia-area-sonny-hill-league|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911071700/http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-05/sports/26150428_1_ron-fang-mitchell-philadelphia-area-sonny-hill-league|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2015|website=Philadelphia Inquirer|accessdate=April 27, 2015|date=August 5, 1989}}</ref>
==Coaching career==
===Gloucester County College=== With no coaching experience, Mitchell became head coach at Gloucester County College in 1978. In his first season, he led the previously struggling Gloucester County Roadrunners to a stunning 19–11 record, then to consecutive seasons with 26 or more wins per year until the 1985–86 season. Gloucester County also made the NJCAA tournament in 1980, 1981, 1985, and 1986.<ref name="Coppin bio"/>
While Gloucester County head coach, Mitchell also assisted at Temple University basketball camps and became a good friend of Temple coach John Chaney. Additionally, Mitchell completed his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Thomas Edison State College in 1984.<ref name="Coppin bio"/>
===Coppin State=== In 1986, Coppin State University, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), hired Mitchell to be head coach for the Coppin State Eagles men's basketball team; Mitchell would hold this position for 28 seasons.<ref name="sports ref">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/fang-mitchell-1.html|title=Fang Mitchell Coaching Record - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com}}</ref> Mitchell earned his master's degree in adult and continuing education at Coppin State in 1994 while head coach.<ref name="Coppin bio"/> In his 28 seasons as head coach, Mitchell was named MEAC Coach of the Year six times. He also led Coppin State to first place in the MEAC regular season standings ten times and four NCAA tournament appearances.<ref name="Coppin bio"/><ref name="sports ref"/>
The Coppin State Eagles improved annually from 8–19 in Mitchell's first season to 26–7 in the 1989–90 season and a berth in the 1990 NCAA tournament. The season also included an upset over Maryland.<ref name="Coppin bio"/> After being projected to finish seventh in the conference in coaches' and sports information directors' preseason polls, Coppin State finished the season 22–8 and first in the MEAC and also made the 1993 NCAA tournament.<ref name="Coppin bio"/><ref name="sports ref"/> In 1995, Mitchell turned down an offer to be head coach at FIU with a salary of $150,000, 90 percent higher than his current pay at Coppin State.<ref name="Coach doesn't put price on loyalty">{{cite web|last1=Bembry|first1=Jerry|title=Coach doesn't put price on loyalty|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/02/03/coach-doesnt-put-price-on-loyalty-coppin-state-fang-mitchells-devotion-to-the-school-president-is-in-keeping-with-lessons-he-teaches-in-basketball/|website=Baltimore Sun|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=February 3, 1998}}</ref>
Coppin State next made the NCAA Tournament in 1997 as a #15 seed and upset #2 South Carolina in the first round before losing to Texas in the second round 82–81.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/coppin-state/1997.html|title=1996-97 Coppin State Eagles Roster and Stats - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407052208/http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/coppin-state/1997.html|archive-date=2015-04-07|df=}}</ref> Coppin State's last NCAA Tournament berth under Mitchell was in 2008.
On March 28, 2014, Coppin State opted not to renew Mitchell's contract, following three consecutive losing seasons and nine losing seasons in the last ten.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Markus|first1=Don|title=Fang Mitchell out as Coppin State men's basketball coach|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2014/03/28/fang-mitchell-out-as-coppin-state-mens-basketball-coach/|website=Baltimore Sun|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=March 28, 2014}}</ref>
==Personal life== Mitchell married the former Yvonne Forston in 1990; they remained married until her death in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yvonne Fortson Mitchell, 56, college administrator...|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/01/13/yvonne-fortson-mitchell-56-college-administratoryvonne-fortson/|website=Baltimore Sun|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=January 13, 2002}}</ref>
==Head coaching record==
===Junior college=== {{CBB yearly record start | type = coach | conference = | postseason= }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Gloucester County Roadrunners | conference= Garden State Athletic Conference | startyear = 1978 | endyear = 1986 }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1978–79 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 19–11 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 1979–80 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 31–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NJCAA tournament }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 1980–81 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 32–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NJCAA Tournament }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1981–82 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 26–7 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1982–83 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 28–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1983–84 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 29–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 1984–85 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 30–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NJCAA Tournament }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 1985–86 | name = Gloucester County | overall = 32–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NJCAA Tournament }} {{CBB yearly record subtotal | name = Gloucester County | overall = 227–46 | confrecord = }} {{CBB yearly record end | overall = 227–46 }}
===College=== {{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Coppin State Eagles | conference= Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | startyear = 1986 | endyear = 2014 }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1986–87 | name = Coppin State | overall = 8–19 | conference = 7–6 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1987–88 | name = Coppin State | overall = 13–14 | conference = 8–7 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1988–89 | name = Coppin State | overall = 18–11 | conference = 11–5 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = confboth | season = 1989–90 | name = Coppin State | overall = 26–7 | conference = 15–1 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Division I First Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1990–91 | name = Coppin State | overall = 19–11 | conference = 14–2 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NIT First Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1991–92 | name = Coppin State | overall = 15–13 | conference = 9–7 | confstanding = T–4th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = confboth | season = 1992–93 | name = Coppin State | overall = 22–8 | conference = 16–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Division I First Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1993–94 | name = Coppin State | overall = 22–8 | conference = 16–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1994–95 | name = Coppin State | overall = 21–10 | conference = 15–1 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NIT Second Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1995–96 | name = Coppin State | overall = 19–10 | conference = 14–2 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = confboth | season = 1996–97 | name = Coppin State | overall = 22–9 | conference = 15–3 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Division I Second Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1997–98 | name = Coppin State | overall = 21–8 | conference = 17–1 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 1998–99 | name = Coppin State | overall = 15–14 | conference = 14–4 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 1999–00 | name = Coppin State | overall = 15–15 | conference = 13–5 | confstanding = T–2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2000–01 | name = Coppin State | overall = 13–15 | conference = 11–8 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2001–02 | name = Coppin State | overall = 6–25 | conference = 3–15 | confstanding = 10th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2002–03 | name = Coppin State | overall = 11–17 | conference = 11–7 | confstanding = T–4th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference | season = 2003–04 | name = Coppin State | overall = 18–14 | conference = 14–4 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2004–05 | name = Coppin State | overall = 14–15 | conference = 13–5 | confstanding = T–2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2005–06 | name = Coppin State | overall = 12–18 | conference = 12–6 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2006–07 | name = Coppin State | overall = 12–20 | conference = 9–9 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2007–08 | name = Coppin State | overall = 16–21 | conference = 7–9 | confstanding = T–7th | postseason = NCAA Division I Opening Round }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2008–09 | name = Coppin State | overall = 13–19 | conference = 9–7 | confstanding = T–3rd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2009–10 | name = Coppin State | overall = 8–22 | conference = 3–13 | confstanding = 11th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2010–11 | name = Coppin State | overall = 16–14 | conference = 11–5 | confstanding = T–2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2011–12 | name = Coppin State | overall = 14–16 | conference = 9–7 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2012–13 | name = Coppin State | overall = 8–24 | conference = 5–11 | confstanding = T–9th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2013–14 | name = Coppin State | overall = 12–20 | conference = 7–9 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record subtotal | name = Coppin State | overall = 429–417 | confrecord = 308–159 }} {{CBB yearly record end | overall = 429–417 }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Coppin State Eagles men's basketball coach navbox}} {{Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Fang}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:African-American basketball coaches Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball coaches from New Jersey Category:Basketball coaches from Pennsylvania Category:Basketball players from Camden, New Jersey Category:Basketball players from Philadelphia Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States Category:Coppin State Eagles men's basketball coaches Category:Coppin State University alumni Category:Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States Category:Rutgers University–Camden alumni Category:Thomas Edison State University alumni Category:Eastside High School (Camden, New Jersey) alumni Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen