Auburn, ME - Head Cross Country Coach, Colleen Lundgren, announced the hiring of Kevin Mitchell as assistant coach for the 2017 season.

Coach Mitchell started his love for running in High School at Poland Regional High School where he became a well-respected runner in the local area.  Running for long time coaches Ray Lafreniere and Sean Galipeau-Eldridge, Coach Mitchell had the opportunity to Coach with Galipeau-Eldridge at PRHS for 2 seasons after graduating college from the University of Maine. Coach "Noodles" Mitchell is still an avid supporter of the PRHS Knights Cross Country team and continues to run with the team during pre-season and attends their competitions when he can.

In 2013, the Knights Cross Country team created the Kevin Mitchell Leadership Award which has become a distinguished athletic award presented to one runner each fall season that exemplifies Leadership skills throughout the XC season.

Coach Mitchell developed a Couch to 5K program for the local RSU-16 Adult Education program where he coached for two seasons, helping individuals reach their goal to run a 5K without stopping.  Previously Mitchell has directed his own road race, was on the Race Committee Board for the Triple Crown 5K Racing Series in L/A., and he continues to be an integral member of the running community in Lewiston/Auburn.

A marathoner, outdoor adventurer and avid runner, Coach Mitchell is always seeking to find a local road or trail race to support a good cause!  You may catch him running with the Sabattus Running Group, Maine Track Club – Lewiston/Auburn Run Group, Lamey Wellehan Run Group, or Runaways Trail group out of Portland.  Kevin has also recently started the Turner Trail Running group which meets once a month in the Turner area.

According to Coach Mitchell, "I am extremely excited to share my passion and love for running with local athletes.  One of my main goals is to help change the running culture here in the Lewiston-Auburn area by developing a community of young athletes with the same passion to create attainable goals, have fun, and do their best to reach them!  Coach Lundgren and I are absolutely thrilled to work with our student-athletes on their running goals while also helping them strive for academic excellence.  Every footstep is a step toward their future.  My goal is for everyone to make the most of every step." 

Coach Lundgren on the hiring of Kevin Mitchell, "Coach Mitchell is an incredible asset to our runners and this team. His passions for running and helping others achieve their goals are unwavering and his years of experience as a cross country coach will prove beneficial in supporting and challenging our runners. Additionally, his fun loving personality and infectious smile will keep our runners laughing and engaged throughout the season."