NEWTOWN – A longtime Mingo County educator and former coach, Phillip Mitchell, died suddenly on Monday afternoon.

Mitchell grew up in the Newtown-Red Jacket area and attended Matewan High School. He eventually went back to college and became a teacher.

Mitchell was the head basketball coach at Matewan High School from 2003-11. He took his 2009 team to the state tournament.

A former fast pitch softball pitcher, Mitchell was also the softball coach at Burch High School for several years. He won nine sectional tournaments in softball with the Lady Bulldogs.

Mitchell was also a longtime basketball official. He would entertain the crowd with some of his calls and antics on the court. He was loved by many of his former students.

Mitchell had retired as a full-time teacher, but he had continued to substitute in Mingo County the last few years.

He leaves behind his wife Jane Ann and two sons. His oldest son Nathaniel is a junior at Marshall University, while his youngest son Nick is a senior at Mingo Central High School.

Chambers Funeral Home of Matewan is in charge of arrangements. They were incomplete at press time.