ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS FOOTBALL

Mitchell named new RBs coach

Former Kansas running backs coach Reggie Mitchell (right) accepted the same position at Arkansas on Friday, filling the spot vacated by Jemal Singleton, who left last week to take a job with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Former Kansas running backs coach Reggie Mitchell (right) accepted the same position at Arkansas on Friday, filling the spot vacated by Jemal Singleton, who left last week to take a job with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema hired Kansas running backs coach Reggie Mitchell on Friday for the same role with the Razorbacks.

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Mitchell, 55, fills the spot vacated when Jemal Singleton left last week to coach running backs for the Indianapolis Colts. The move completes Bielema's staff.

Singleton, who was with the Razorbacks for one season, was the second consecutive Arkansas running backs coach under Bielema to take a job with an NFL team. Joel Thomas left the Razorbacks last year to work with the New Orleans Saints.

"I'm excited to be a Razorback and be a part of Coach Bielema's program," Mitchell said in a university news release. "Arkansas is a special place with a ton of tradition, especially at the running back position. I know there's a talented group of running backs there, and I can't wait to get there and keep that tradition going."

Mitchell had been running backs coach the past six seasons and recruiting coordinator for five of the past six years at Kansas. Mitchell's coaching background has been mostly in the Midwest, but he has had success recruiting in Texas. He has coached 33 players who have been taken in the NFL Draft, including six first-round choices.

"I got to know Reggie during my time in the Big Ten and he was known as a dominant recruiter," Bielema said in the UA release. "Over his career he's recruited and developed elite running backs and athletes that had great college careers and advanced to the NFL. I'm excited about the opportunity to have Coach Mitchell join our staff."

A native of Flint, Mich., Mitchell was a four-year starter at running back at Central Michigan from 1978-81, when he rushed for 2,394 yards and helped the Chippewas to back-to-back Mid-America Conference titles in 1979-80.

Mitchell, who began his career as a student assistant coach at Central Michigan in 1983, served two stints at Kansas, from 1988-96 and then again starting in 2010. He coached the defensive line and defensive ends at Kansas between 1988-94, but he's been a running backs coach since 2000 when Michigan State Coach Nick Saban moved him there after a year as wide receivers coach for the Spartans. Mitchell also has been a recruiting coordinator for seven of the past 16 years.

John L. Smith, a three-year assistant coach at Arkansas and interim head coach for the Razorbacks in 2012, gave Mitchell his first job as a recruiting coordinator at Michigan State in 2003.

Mitchell worked with two first-round draft picks at Michigan State in receiver Plaxico Burress in 1999 and running back T.J. Duckett.

In his most recent stint at Kansas, Mitchell worked with running back James Sims, who finished his career ranked third on the school's rushing chart with 3,592 yards and was the first Jayhawk to rush for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons (2012-13).

Sports on 02/13/2016

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