Tigers track and field coach recognized

Among 23 coaches selected for National Coach of the Year

Tigers track and field coach Benny Mitchell has been officially recognized by the National Federal of State High School Associations as one of the 23 high school coaches selected for the 2021-22 National Coaches of the Year award.

From thereon, a coach may proceed to the next tier of prestige, which would be the sectional coach of the year, an award of excellence given to a coach for one of eight geographical regions.

In the case of Mitchell, that would be section 6 — Southwest — which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. From that pool of sectional success, the overall national coach of the year will be declared at a later date.

A press release published by JP Murrieta, sports information director for the New Mexico Activities Assocation, states that “Benny Mitchell has coached the Taos High School boys track and field team the past 14 years with a philosophy of developing student-athletes’ ability to build trust in themselves, their teams and their supporters. He also developed a mini-dynasty in the past decade when the Taos boys track and field program won five straight state championships (2014-2018. Mitchell’s teams have also won seven district titles. In addition, Mitchell coaches the girls program at Taos, guiding them to three state titles and five district championships.”

Also the assistant coach of the Taos bowling team, Mitchell currently has his sights set on the performances of the Taos Tigers that bowl for him and preparing them for the upcoming New Mexico High School Bowling Association state tournament in February.

Once winter leaves and the new track and field is installed at Taos High, Mitchell can return to coaching the track and field teams and building on his resume.

The championship run that Mitchell-led teams had from 2014 to 2018 is tied for third best all-time in the NMAA record books, only behind Albuquerque Academy with six in a row, and behind Fort Sumner, Highland and La Cueva which are tied for first with eight in a row.