High School Football Spotlight: Sam Mitchell, WR Coach Huntington High School

Sam Mitchell

WR Coach

Huntington High School (Chillicothe)

1-How long have you been coaching?

I’ve been coaching for 8 years.

2-What all schools have you coached at?

Huntington and Paint Valley

3-After setting with you in the press box and observing your work, I noticed you are very intense during the game. Are you that way at practice too?

To a certain extent I am. Practice I am more focused on teaching and having the players understand the “what” and the “why”

4-What all positions have you coached and which has been your favorite?

Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, and Corners.

5-What got you into coaching?

I knew during my Senior season I wanted to get into it. I was fortunate enough to have good coaches through my high school career and seeing the impact they had on me and my teammates I wanted to do the same in the future.

6-Who is the best player you have ever coached?

I was fortunate enough to coach two of the best quarterbacks from both schools. Bryce Newland from Paint Valley and Elijah McCloskey from Huntington. Both were great leaders, fierce competitors, amazing kids in the community and they both were so eager to learn and get better at what they did.

7-How hard was the covid season on you as a coach?

It’s been a rough one, I think every coach would agree. Making sure kids are socially distant, wearing a mask and having them not share water bottles etc. Every day you always had that thought in the back of your head wondering if you were going to have a positive case come up. But you were most concerned about the kids and their families.

8-As a coach how do you try and get kids interested in playing the game?

Try to make fun out of everything we do and do as much together as a team to form that brotherhood and bond. When other kids see that they want to be a part of it. They don’t just learn football but they learn how the things they do in practice and games will help them in their life off the field.

9-What is the best part at coaching at Huntington?

It’s definitely the kids. We have awesome kids that will give you everything they got and 110%. And having such a supportive community in the township really helps too.

10-Where should the state finals be held?

The Shoe. For kids to experience the same field where the Buckeyes play, let alone playing in the state championship games, is a one in a million feeling.