BOONE, N.C. – App State Men's Basketball has hired assistant coach
Jonathan Mitchell to the staff ahead of the 2026-27 season, head coach
Dustin Kerns announced Tuesday.
A national champion and all-conference player, Mitchell is a rising star in the coaching world, having developed players at the collegiate and professional level and most recently helping Mercer post its best record in 12 years.
"We are thrilled to welcome
Jonathan Mitchell to our coaching staff," Kerns said. "Jonathan is a proven winner who brings a wealth of knowledge from both the collegiate ranks and the NBA G League. His elite ability to develop players, combined with his passion for mentorship, makes him the perfect fit for our program. Our student-athletes will benefit immensely from his experience and leadership.
"Jonathan is a high-character leader who shares our vision for championships and player success on and off the court. He is an exceptional communicator who understands what it takes to compete at the highest level. His national recognition as a rising star in our profession speaks to his work ethic and basketball mind. Jonathan's energy is contagious, and he will impact our program from day one."
In his second season at Mercer in 2025-26, Mitchell helped guide the Bears to 19 wins and the program's best winning percentage since 2013-14, when Mercer upset Duke in the NCAA tournament. Mitchell helped develop a pair of all-conference selections in Baraka Okojie and Armanti Mighty. Okojie was also named to the all-district second team, scoring in double figures in all 31 games for the Bears.
Mitchell helped Mercer excel on both ends of the court last season, as the team finished among the top two teams in the Southern Conference in scoring offense, rebounding, blocked shots, steals, fast break points, and fewest fouls per game. The Bears' 15.6 fast break points per game ranked 15th nationally.
Prior to his time at Mercer, Mitchell spent one season as an assistant coach with the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans. Mitchell worked with players such as Trey Jameson III who signed a two-way deal with the New York Knicks prior to the 2025-26 season.
"I am incredibly grateful to Coach Kerns and the entire App State administration for the opportunity to join this program," Mitchell said. "App State has established a strong culture – built on hard work, player development and winning – and I'm excited to continue building on that foundation. Coach Kerns has built something special in Boone, and I look forward to working alongside him and the rest of the staff to help our student-athletes grow both on and off the court. My family and I can't wait to become part of the App State community and get to work."
Mitchell was selected to attend the TopConnect Basketball Symposium in the summers of 2025 and 2026. TopConnect identifies the top assistant coaches in the nation and offers elite networking and professional development opportunities. Additionally, Mitchell was selected to attend the inaugural, invitation-only NABC Flight School in the summer of 2026. Flight School, presented by Nike, prepares participants to become the industry's next generation of leaders through educational sessions, mock interviews and targeted networking.
Mitchell's coaching career began as an assistant to Tom Crean at Georgia in 2018-19 where he coached Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton. Mitchell went on to serve as an assistant coach at Stetson, where he coached three all-conference players and two ASUN Freshman of the Year players over his four seasons with the Hatters.
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Mitchell enjoyed a seven-year professional career, playing in countries that include Spain, Israel, France, Greece, Hungary and Iceland.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Mitchell was a member of Florida's 2007 NCAA Championship squad as a freshman. During his sophomore season, he appeared in 35 games for the Gators before transferring to Rutgers for his final two years, where he earned All-Big East honors as a senior.
In high school, Mitchell was named as the New York State Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006 while starring at Mount Vernon High School, where he won a pair of state championships and is the program's all-time leading scorer.
Mitchell graduated from Rutgers in 2011 with a degree in communications.
