The Citadel head coach Maurice Drayton has officially secured the services of Lyvonia “Stump” Mitchell to join the Bulldogs’ coaching staff. Mitchell, who reached out to Drayton last spring regarding the opportunity, steps into the role following the departure of former running backs coach Everette Sands. Sands left the program at the end of the previous season to pursue a position closer to his hometown in Conway, leaving a significant gap in the coaching hierarchy that Drayton sought to fill with a figure of equal or greater stature.
The all-time rushing leader returns to fill the void left by Everette Sands.
Mitchell’s return carries immense weight given his historic status as The Citadel’s all-time leading rusher. While Sands was an All-American who guided the team to a 1992 Southern Conference championship and finished second on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,962 yards, Mitchell surpassed those benchmarks during his playing career. Drayton emphasized that Mitchell possesses deep tactical knowledge, stating that the veteran “has forgotten more football than most people know,” making him an invaluable asset for the current roster.
This hiring marks a successful resolution for a long-standing effort by the program to bring Mitchell back. Drayton noted that previous attempts to recruit Mitchell had failed due to timing and other circumstances, but the alignment of interests this spring proved decisive. By leveraging Mitchell’s proven success and intimate understanding of the Bulldogs’ culture, The Citadel aims to bolster its offensive strategy and maintain competitive momentum in the Southern Conference.
Source: Yahoo Sports
