Choctaw County has a new man at the helm of Charger football – Dillon Mitchell. Mitchell was announced Friday morning in a special called board meeting.
The Chargers will be Mitchell’s second head coaching stop. Mitchell joins the staff after leading the Northeast Lauderdale Trojans to a 4-6 season after the Trojans had a 1-18 season
While there, the Trojans won their first home game in five years. Mitchell was also able to increase the Trojans roster from 42 to 75. Mitchell was also able to raise $50,000 for the program, while at Northeast Lauderdale.
Mitchell told the board that he was excited to be a part of the Choctaw County family, and he planned to be in the position for a long time.
He is not a stranger to the Red Hills. He spent three years at Louisville High School as the offensive coordinator. Mitchell was a part of the 2020 team that won the 4A State Championship. And in 2021, Mitchell was named to the Bernard Blackwell Allstar Game coaching staff as an assistant coach.
While at Louisville, Mitchell’s helped with a 34-7 record, accumulated 13,850 yards of total offense (7,429 rushing and 6,431 in passing), helped to produce multiple 1,000 yards rushers and 2,000-yard passers; averaged 353.8 yards per gain and 30 passing per gain.
Mitchell also increased QB completion by 18 points and coached and developed multiple all state/college players.
He’s also made coaching stops at Starkville and Tupelo, being a part of their winning seasons as well.
The Mitchell family is also no stranger to the Choctaw County area. Mitchell’s grandfather coached at Ackerman High in the 50s and 60s. His father, Jaime, was the head coach at Starkville High School when the yellowjackets won the 6A title in 2013.
“This area is rich in football. We’re excited to be back in the area,” Mitchell said. He said the area is prime and there’s talent here. He said that he understands the rich history that is in Choctaw County and the ground is right for a gold ball to be back in Choctaw County.
His first year will be an end of an era with the Chargers playing their last home game at Dale Davidson stadium this year, and moving to Chargers Stadium, the new home of the Chargers that is in the works and the first phase of the former Tom Glasgow Park that is set to open in 2024.
He said he believes that he’s in the right spot and the new additions are going to be a good thing for the players and the community.
Mitchell said one of the conversations he and Superintendent Glen Beard discussed was the rich traditions that Weir and Ackerman both hold, and the future of the Chargers.
“Mr. [Glen] Beard and I talked about it. Weir has had their time, Ackerman has had their time, and now its Choctaw County’s time,” he said.
Former head coach Jeff Roberts has been the only coach that has able to get the Chargers close. Under Roberts, the Chargers went to the North Half game against Noxubee County and went to the third round in the playoffs against Charleston. Former coach Ben Ashley was the first coach
but Mitchell believes that he can get the Chargers over the threshold and it’s his intention to do so.
Mitchell loses a lot of seniors but will have another up-and-coming big senior class in 2024, which includes Jalon James and Jahiem Woodard, two of the playmakers from the previous season, a 2025 class which includes the On3 tenth wide receiver in the nation, Caleb Cunningham and a 2026 class that has KJ Cork, the freshman QB who will be entering his sophomore year and threw for 1,056 yards in his first year. However, with the talent that’s still to come in the Junior High squads, including an undefeated eighth grade team that moving to the freshman class, he’ll have a lot to work with.
Mitchell’s hire is effective April 3, just in time for Spring football.
“I’m ready to hit the ground running,” he said.
Mitchell’s wife Regan works as a recruiter at East Mississippi Community College, at their main campus in Scooba. The Mitchells said it was important that they were in a location that she was able to commute.
