 Mitchell in 2019 | |
| University of West Georgia Wolves | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running backs coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1959-03-15)March 15, 1959 (age 66) Saint Marys, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Camden County (Kingsland, Georgia) |
| College: | The Citadel |
| NFL draft: | 1981: 9th round, 226th pick |
| Career history | |
As a player: | |
As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Career: | 14–42 (college) |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Lyvonia Albert "Stump" Mitchell (born March 15, 1959) is anAmerican football coach and former player who currently serves as therunning backs coach for theWest Georgia Wolves. He previously served in the same role for theCleveland Browns of theNational Football League (NFL). He served as head football coach atMorgan State University from 1996 to 1998 andSouthern University from 2010 to 2012, compiling an overallcollege football record of 14–42. Mitchell played collegiately atThe Citadel and thereafter was drafted by theSt. Louis Cardinals. He was arunning back andreturn specialist for the Cardinals from 1981 to 1989.
Mitchell's football career began at Camden County High School,Camden County, Georgia. He playedcollege football forThe Citadel and holds school records for rushing yards in a season (1,647) and career (4,062). A three-year starter at tailback, he was a two-time allSouthern Conference selection. As a senior in 1980 he was the second leading rusher in NCAA Division I-A behindHeisman Trophy winnerGeorge Rogers and was named a Third-Team Associated Press All-American; he was named Southern Conference Player of the Year and the South Carolina Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Mitchell also participated in track and field competition at The Citadel, recording a 23-foot 3 inch jump in 1981.[1]
Mitchell was selected by theSt. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round (226th pick overall) of the1981 NFL draft. As a 5'9", 188 lbs.running back, Mitchell played for the Cardinals from 1981 to 1989 and ended his NFL career with theKansas City Chiefs in 1990; he made a brief comeback with theArizona Rattlers of theArena Football League in 1993. His best year as a pro was during the 1985 season when he rushed for 1,006 yards and seventouchdowns, while also contributing 502 yards and 3 touchdowns as a receiver.[2] In 10 NFL seasons he rushed 986 times for 4,647 yards and scored 32 touchdowns, he has the second most all purpose yards in Cardinals franchise history with 11,985 behind onlyLarry Fitzgerald.[3][2]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1981 | STL | 16 | 0 | 31 | 175 | 5.6 | 43 | 0 | 6 | 35 | 5.8 | 16 | 1 |
| 1982 | STL | 9 | 1 | 39 | 189 | 4.8 | 32 | 1 | 11 | 149 | 13.5 | 30 | 0 |
| 1983 | STL | 15 | 1 | 68 | 373 | 5.5 | 46 | 3 | 7 | 54 | 7.7 | 17 | 0 |
| 1984 | STL | 16 | 1 | 81 | 434 | 5.4 | 39 | 9 | 26 | 318 | 12.2 | 44 | 2 |
| 1985 | STL | 16 | 8 | 183 | 1,006 | 5.5 | 64 | 7 | 47 | 502 | 10.7 | 46 | 3 |
| 1986 | STL | 15 | 13 | 174 | 800 | 4.6 | 44 | 5 | 41 | 276 | 6.7 | 24 | 0 |
| 1987 | STL | 12 | 12 | 203 | 781 | 3.8 | 42 | 3 | 45 | 397 | 8.8 | 39 | 2 |
| 1988 | PHO | 14 | 14 | 164 | 726 | 4.4 | 47 | 4 | 25 | 214 | 8.6 | 28 | 1 |
| 1989 | PHO | 3 | 3 | 43 | 165 | 3.8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 |
| 116 | 53 | 986 | 4,649 | 4.7 | 64 | 32 | 209 | 1,955 | 9.4 | 46 | 9 | ||
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1982 | STL | 1 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 3.0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 14.3 | 36 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 3.0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 14.3 | 36 | 0 | ||
Mitchell served as head coach atCasa Grande Union High School inCasa Grande, Arizona from 1993 to 1994. He was the head coach atMorgan State University from 1996 to 1998, compiling a record of 8–24. He served as the running backs coach for theSeattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2007 then was brought by new head coachJim Zorn to theWashington Redskins staff in 2008 serving as Running Backs Coach and Assistant Head Coach. Mitchell accepted the head coaching position atSouthern University on January 11, 2010. During his first season, Mitchell led Southern to a 2–9 record. In 2011, the Jaguars finished with a 4–7 record.
To start off the 2012 season, Southern suffered a 66–21 loss to the New Mexico Lobos. After that defeat, the Jaguars returned home for a Thursday home game against Mississippi Valley State which aired nationally on ESPNU. Southern was upset 6–0 by Valley in that contest. The next day Mitchell was reassigned to another position within the university, ending his tenure as Southern's head coach after only 24 games.[4] He finished with a 6–18 overall record. Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums was named as the interim coach of the Jaguars.[4]
Mitchell joined the Arizona Cardinals as the running backs coach in 2013, and was with the team for four seasons before leaving the team in January 2017. He was signed to be the New York Jets' running backs coach[5] in February 2017. In 2019, Mitchell joined the Cleveland Browns as the running backs coach. The following season, even with the Browns’ head coaching change, Stump was retained as the running backs coach.[6] On January 17, 2024, days after a loss to the Houston Texans in theWild Card round, Browns' head coachKevin Stefanski fired Mitchell.[7]
Mitchell is a member ofOmega Psi Phi fraternity.[citation needed] His older brother called him "Stump", because he was never intimidated by playing with kids bigger than he was.[8]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan State Bears(Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)(1996–1998) | |||||||||
| 1996 | Morgan State | 4–7 | 0–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1997 | Morgan State | 3–7 | 2–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1998 | Morgan State | 1–10 | 1–7 | 8th | |||||
| Morgan State: | 8–24 | 3–17 | |||||||
| Southern Jaguars(South Western Athletic Conference])(2010–2012) | |||||||||
| 2010 | Southern | 2–9 | 1–8 | 5th(West) | |||||
| 2011 | Southern | 4–7 | 4–5 | 4th(West) | |||||
| 2012 | Southern | 0–2[n 1] | 0–1[n 1] | (West)[n 1] | |||||
| Southern: | 6–18 | 5–14 | |||||||
| Total: | 14–42 | ||||||||