Lawrence Technological University

Avante Mitchell joined the LTU Football coaching staff in July 2019 as the defensive coordinator before being named the interim head coach in December of 2019. Mitchell was promoted to head coach in February of 2020.

In his second season as Blue Devils' head coach, Mitchell led the team to an impressive 7-4 record, led by a stellar special teams unit (ranking first in punt return average, second in punt return yds/gm, fifth in kickoff return average, and held opponents to negative yards and three fumbles on punt returns).

Mitchell comes to Lawrence Tech University from Northwood University, where he spent three seasons as its defensive backs coach. During his tenure at Northwood, he coached and mentored six players that earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors. Before Northwood Mitchell spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Taylor University. During his time with the Trojans, Taylor’s defense ranked among the national leaders in NAIA in multiple categories (sacks, rush defense, defensive turnovers among others) during all three seasons.

Resume Excerpts:

• Led team to Top 25 rankings in NAIA in all major defensive statistical categories, including total scoring (21.9 pts/g), total defense (332.5 yds/g), rush defense, (119.8 yds/g), sacks (36 total 3.6/g), and defensive turnovers (25 total, 19 INTs, and 6 FR) while helping the team to secure a 7-3 record in 2015, and the 11^th, 18^th, and 6^th ranked defenses in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.
• While coaching special teams, he developed schemes and strategies leading all collegiate levels (Division I, II, III, and NAIA) in blocked kicks (20) between the 2013 and 2015 seasons.
• Coached Adam Sauder who was a two-time All-American, MSFA-East Defensive Player of the Year, and a finalist for the 2014 Cliff Harris Award as one of the nation's best small college defensive players.

Before his time at Taylor, Mitchell spent two seasons at Concordia University-Ann Arbor, where he held several roles. Mitchell was the defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator as well as interim head Coach for the Cardinals.

A native of Detroit, Michigan Mitchell began his collegiate career playing football at the University of Louisville, before transferring to Wayne State University. Later he earned his management BBA degree from Northwood University.

Mitchell and his wife Ebony have twins: a son Ahlon, majoring in law and legal studies at the United States Military Academy West Point, playing quarterback on their football team, and a daughter Ahvon, majoring in digital media and journalism at Western Michigan University, a sprinter and hurdler on their track & field team.

:: The Mitchell File