‘Fired Up To Be Here’
New Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell poised to build upon strong foundation with experience, character, and leadership.
To say that Jeff Mitchell was elated to be offered the director of athletics position at Ball State University would be an understatement.
“I told President Mearns I was going to have to run up and down our football field a few times to get my heart to calm down a little bit, because it was racing,” Mr. Mitchell recalled, referring to the fateful early-February call he received from Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns.
Jeff Mitchell, left, and his family—daughter, Harper Wynne; son, Carson; and wife, April—clap along to the Ball State Fight Song during an event to formally introduce Mr. Mitchell as Ball State’s new Director of Athletics, Feb. 6, 2023, at the Ball State Alumni Center.
As excited as he was, however, Mr. Mitchell knew how important it was to include his family—especially his wife, April—in the final decision. Just three hours later, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell decided to call President Mearns together. They couldn’t wait to accept the role and don the Cardinal and White.
“I get asked from time to time about, ‘What is your dream job?’ I’ve never been able to be specific about a particular location, in terms of a destination. It was more of an opportunity,” Mr. Mitchell said. “I felt more and more comfortable that this was a place where I could contribute. And the values, in terms of alignment, both professionally and personally, couldn’t have been better. I’m excited to be a part of the team.”
Mr. Mitchell comes to Ball State from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he served as deputy director of athletics since 2018. In all, he has more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration, having managed the daily operations both at Southern Miss and at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., where he worked in various athletics roles over a 12-year period.
At both stops—as well as in previous roles at his alma maters Millsaps College and the University of Mississippi—Mr. Mitchell built an impressive track record of advancing organizational development, enhancing revenue generation, and hiring diverse coaches and staff.
What stood out most to President Mearns about Mr. Mitchell throughout the hiring process was his character.
“Jeff has a values-based approach to leadership that embodies our enduring values,” President Mearns said. “I am confident that Jeff will help our University extend a legacy of excellence in Ball State Athletics—a tradition that instills pride and passion among our students, our graduates, and our fans.”
Having officially started in his new role March 20, Mr. Mitchell points at Ball State’s already-strong reputation in both academics and athletics as the ideal foundation from which to propel the Cardinals into even greater heights.
“I want us to be the class of the MAC (Mid-American Conference) in terms of how we educate our students, how we compete for championships,” Mr. Mitchell said of his vision for the University’s athletics department. “I want us to invest locally and be really strong and proud of who we are as an athletic department at Ball State. And then I want us to grow regionally and nationally.
“We’re fired up to be here,” he continued, referencing his wife and two children, daughter, Harper Wynne (14), and son, Carson (9). “My family and I are excited to be part of the Ball State family.”
