Over the Last 40 Years, Jim Mitchell Has Called More Than 800 Florida Tech Men’s and Women’s Games

HAS CALLED BIGGEST GAMES IN FIT HISTORY

ABOVE VIDEO: Over the last 40 years, Florida Tech Panthers basketball broadcaster Jim Mitchell has called more than 800 Panthers men’s and women’s games and he’s volunteered his time to do every one of them.

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2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Many people say they love what they do but do they love it enough to do it free? Over the last 40 years, Florida Tech Panthers basketball broadcaster Jim Mitchell has called more than 800 Panthers men’s and women’s games and he’s volunteered his time to do every one of them.

Broadcasting basketball was something he seemed destined to do. As the youngest of eight children growing up, speaking up was a necessity if you wanted seconds at the dinner table or wanted a say, period.

Mitchell’s love for round ball originated in the small southern Illinois town of Eldorado, which borders on the basketball hotbeds of Kentucky and Indiana.

He began broadcasting high school games and tournaments in his hometown at a young age and when he moved to Florida in 1979 he took a trip over to the old Percy Hedgecock Gymnasium at Florida Tech and began his career with the Panther…at no charge.

Mitchell and Dr. Arthur Gutman were the original broadcasters, but Jim has stayed and watched the men’s program grow and the birth of the women’s program during their inaugural season of 1986-87.

He has traveled with the program for tournaments in Providence, Las Vegas and Alaska and he’s been tremendous in helping the school transition from radio only to live streaming.

He has called some of the biggest games in Panther basketball history, including victories over Dartmouth (1985), UMass (1989) and Boston College (1989), as well as a number of SSC Championship and NCAA Tournament games.
Mitchell is a man that loves his country, his community and the game of basketball.

Of course, he had day jobs and if you know him then it’s no surprise that they involved serving his country or his community. Mitchell spent time in the army and working at the CIA as well as working directly with law enforcement agencies on violent crimes.

When asked what he loves best about what he does, or why he’s done this for so long and never been paid, Jim answers with two words, “The people.”

“Florida Tech is like a big family and some of my best friends are there – women’s basketball coach John Reynolds is one of my very best friends,” said Mitchell.

DEDICATED STUDENT-ATHLETES INSPIRE

Mitchell loves the dedication and the determination of the coaches, staffs, student-athletes and everyone in the athletics department at Florida Tech. It’s what keeps him coming back.

Men’s basketball coach Billy Mims described Jim best during his induction into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Mims said a former NBA broadcaster who was calling games for another school in the Sunshine State Conference approached Mims before a game and wanted to meet Mitchell.

He conveyed to Mims that while watching the film to prepare for his own broadcast on Florida Tech he fell in love with Mitchell’s broadcasting style.

Mims asked the broadcaster what he liked so much about Jim’s style and his reply was that Jim Mitchell was a cross between former legendary play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, Chick Hearn and everyone’s favorite TV Sheriff, Andy Griffith.

When asked about the comparison Mitchell replied, “I guess you can’t be better than that.”

THE 2020 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 8. 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2020 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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