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It started earlier this month and there are no plans to stop anytime soon. New Prince Edward County High varsity football coach Melvin Mitchell and some of his team can be found at different churches around the county on Sunday mornings. The goal here is to introduce the team and new football coach to people in the area. 

“Every Sunday, we’re gonna be visiting a different church in the community,” Mitchell said. “It’s just to show our faces, just to grab the people and put support back behind Prince Edward sports.” 

Mitchell came into the position late, taking over from another newcomer. Due to some health-related issues, Delquan Bigelow had to step aside in July after taking over the team. Now Mitchell, who many people in Prince Edward know as both a long-time coach and commissioner of the youth football league, is stepping in. And one thing he wants to focus on is rebuilding a connection between Prince Edward and its football team. 

“One thing I loved about the youth league was that you could look on the sideline and see grandma over there, you could see grandpa out there rooting on their boys,” Mitchell said. “That kinda makes them want to do more. They see people on the sidelines, they see people showing up to supporting and it drives them to do more.” 

Mitchell, himself a Prince Edward graduate, said he remembers when it was like that, back some 40 years ago. And he wants to bring that feeling back. 

“Back when I was in school, before I could even get on the field, going to football games back in the 80s you could hardly walk around, because there were so many people here,” Mitchell said. “I come to the games now and you can see just about everybody with one look.” 

Developing a love of football 

One thing Mitchell wants to do is help the players have fun and develop a love of football, just like he had growing up. 

“I’ve always had a special love for the game, ever since I can remember,” Mitchell said. “I fell in love with the game in 1982. Most kids would be outside on Sundays running around, but my Sundays would be in front of that tv watching football.”

Growing up a San Francisco 49ers fan, Mitchell loved watching players like Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, inspired by their passion for the game. And he wants to inspire his own players, but not just on the field.

“I tell my kids here that I try to coach life before football,” Mitchell said. “My biggest victories may not show up in the win-loss column and I’m ok with that. If I can help this young kid get into college or if I can help one of them through a life situation, that’s winning for me.” 

Mitchell said he wants to be a mentor, someone they can turn to for advice, for help or just because they know he cares. 

“God put me in this position,” Mitchell said. “In order to understand these kids, you’ve had to have been through something. And I was not the greatest kid growing up, I had kind of a hard head. And it meant a lot to have my grandmother, my mother pour so much love into me, encouraging me to be better, to do better. All of that finally kicked in. And I want to be there for these kids in the same way.” 

That means doing things as a team beyond the football field. Players and coaches will do movie night, have meals together and on Saturdays, go catch a football game at Hampden-Sydney College. 

New football coach wants to rebuild

Taking over a team that went 3-7 overall and 3-3 in James River District play, Mitchell knows the players struggled at times last season, especially on defense. The Eagles gave up 460 points, surrendering an average of 46 per game. But there were positives too, including a two-game winning streak to end the season. He wants to build on that, to apply what he learned in 10 years of coaching in youth league and four years as commissioner. When he first started, there were roughly 40 to 50 kids showing up for games. By the end of his time as commissioner this past year, that number had spiked to 153. 

“We need to make it fun for the kids, that’s the biggest thing,” Mitchell said. “If we can get support behind them, I think it’ll encourage them.” 

His attitude and energy are part of what stood out for Prince Edward County High Athletic Director Chris Baird, when bringing him on board. 

“Melvin is all-in on the athletic vision and committed to the process,” Baird said. “His passion for the program and its future success is what stood out and I’m excited to have him on staff.” 

As for how Mitchell sees this year’s plan, he envisions an up-tempo style fitting the players he has at Prince Edward. This would be something where the spread offense gets plugged in, along with a lot of run-pass option plays. He also plans to bring the pistol formation back. And in the middle of designing plays and picking starters, the community will be seeing coaches and players out and about, as a way to get to know them. 

“I want to build that back up, build that culture we had,” Mitchell said. “I want to get that Eagle pride back.”