Former Ohio State Buckeyes Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Mark Mitchell Dies at 56

Ohio State Buckeyes' Mark Mitchell coached at the high school and college levels.

Former women's basketball assistant coach Mark Mitchell died at the age of 56 Tuesday.

Mitchell was an assistant under current head coach Kevin McGuff from 2013-2018, where he coached his daughter and current Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell and helped the Buckeyes to two NCAA Tournament Second Rounds and two Sweet Sixteens.

Mitchell was hired in McGuff's first year in 2013, a year before Kelsey Mitchell entered the program. Father helped daughter set multiple Ohio State program records, including becoming the all-time leading scorer in program history with 3,402 points and becoming an NCAA-fastest to 2,000 points.

Mitchell started his coaching career as head boy's basketball coach at Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School in Cincinnati before joining the Buckeyes in 2013. In 2018, both he and his daughter left the program and he returned to Taft until 2020. From then on, he was the men's basketball coach at Wilberforce University in southeast Ohio.

Mitchell helped Taft win eight Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference titles to go along with four district titles and the state title at the Division II level. He was also voted the conference Coach of the Year eight times.

Ohio State women's basketball posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday mourning the loss of Mitchell:

McGuff also expressed his emotions surrounding the news Tuesday to ABC WCPO9.

"As a program, we are devastated to hear of the passing of former assistant coach Mark Mitchell," McGuff said. "Mark was extremely dedicated to his family, friends and players. His passion for young people allowed him to positively shape the lives of so many who had to the privilege of playing for him. We mourn with Cheryl, Kelsey, Chelsea, Kevin, Cam and the extended family. Mark will always remain in our thoughts and prayers."