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Dion Mitchell
The Texas UIL Executive Committee on Monday voted 4-0 to suspend Lorenzo High School boys’ basketball coach Dion Mitchell after eight student-athletes transferred to the school, with one violating the league’s rules.
Coach Mitchell was a coach at Dimmitt High School in 2017 and 2018 before taking a position at Lorenzo.
The decision came during a meeting when evidence – text messages - was presented by another coach within the district confirming that Coach Mitchell had recruited a player from another school.
Mitchell claimed he sent the messages as a joke – though the player moved to Lorenzo months later.
The player in question, Travon McCaslin, a 3A All State, who had the rest of his eligibility revoked by the UIL Executive Committee for moving for athletic purposes.
According to James Colbert with the UIL committee says, the texts provide a compelling argument that Coach Mitchell was at the center of some recruiting.
Assistant Coach Stacy Godfrey was also a topic of discussion after three players transferred from Slaton, where he previously coached, though Godfrey said he had known the students since they were pre-athletes. Lorenzo ISD superintendent Kayla Morrison said the players likely followed the coach to Lorenzo because he was their mentor.
The committee placed Godfrey on a two-year probation, and Mitchell has been suspended from coaching for one year and placed on a three-year probation. Mitchell will be unable to attend sporting events unless he is watching his sons play.
Lorenzo ISD has not made a statement thus far as to whether the district will allow Mitchell to remain as athletic director.