Bloodlines interview: Donna Mitchell

Donna Mitchell is a stalwart of the Northern Tasmanian basketball community having dedicated more than three decades to coaching young ahtletes as a club and State head coach and administrator. She has fostered the development of many Tasmanian athletes, providing meaningful pathways to regional, national and international representation. 

Donna is the president of the South East Launceston Devils Basketball Club. She is also a former head coach of the Launceston Tornadoes and was named Female Coach of the Year at the 2008 Basketball Australia Junior Basketball Awards. 

Annually, the Hobart Chargers and Launceston Tornadoes play for the Mitchell-Greenwood trophy in a Womens NBL1 South game. The trophy is named after Donna Mitchell and fellow Bloodlines member, the late Andree Greenwood, for their contributions to Tasmanian basketball. 

How did you get involved in basketball?

I started playing basketball during Primary School in Sydney with some friends at the local park which then developed into a local competition played every Saturday on outdoor courts. I played throughout High School in various teams and just loved being with my friends, so I really think it was the social aspect I enjoyed the most. My mother was a single parent with three daughters that were all very outgoing and loved their sport so the more we were busy and playing sport made her life much easier! My Grandfather made my first basketball ring out of some wire he had in his shed he made a hoop shape out of it and nailed it to an old gumtree in the backyard I would go and shoot for hours.

What have been some of your proudest moments from your involvement in the sport?

Such a tough question when you have been lucky enough to coach for over 33 years so many great moments. I would say that coaching an under 16 National championships played at Terrigal NSW was a real highlight and a turning point for how Tasmanian teams were regarded at a national level.  We had a great group of athletes that year, that knew what it meant to play as a team, and they backed each other up on and off the court. I have never been approached by so many parents and coaches of opposition teams to praise and complement the boys and just acknowledge their tenacity and teamwork. Every time we played the stadiums would fill with so many extra supporters it was just such a great moment as a coach to be a part of such a great team. Unfortunately, we lost our Semi Final game to play in the Gold medal game by a point on a half court buzzer shot and my boys were devastated (the opposition Parents came over to my boys first to console them) and to get those boys to rally around with many injuries for the bronze medal game was tough but unfortunately they did to lose the game by 2. That year however we had 4 boys selected to attend the AIS camp and I was lucky enough to be named Junior Female coach of the year, not to mention lifelong friendships created.

What do you get out of coaching junior teams and athletes?

I loved playing as a kid so when my boys were first asked to play with some mates at school, I felt this is something I know a little about so I’ll get involved. Becoming a coach helps you reconnect with your sports passions. I learnt new skills and techniques and I loved sharing them with a new generation of young athletes. It’s exciting to watch their enthusiasm for Basketball grow. However, I think to be honest it’s the friendships I have made that gives me the most enjoyment.

How have you seen junior pathways develop over the years in Tasmania?

Basketball in Tasmania has had an increase in participation over the last couple of years which enables us to create stronger domestic competitions I believe are the backbone of all the state and national programs . Being able to deliver a wide range of good quality development programs is key.

Why do you think there is such a strong basketball following/participation in Northern Tasmania?

Basketball supports a wide range of programs and opportunities for younger players. I think in the North we are doing a great job offering a Premier and a Development league that will cater for all skill levels and of course participation brings more interest as well as the Clubs in the north do a great job of promoting an inclusive environment. What we sadly lack in the North is our infrastructure to cater for the growth.

What do you think the JackJumpers will do for junior basketballers in Tasmania?

How good is it to have our own NBL team again such a great day it was for our state to have the announcement made we were going to have our own team in the best league in this country. The NBL and the JackJumpers will drive great exposure for our sport, provide an aspirational target for our young boys into the NBL and hopefully see the expansion for our girls into the WNBL. Being included as part of the Bloodlines family is such a great honour and having a coach of the calibre of Scott Roth recognise the importance of our basketball history is so reassuring that our team is in good hands.

The Bloodlines program is an intiative started by JackJumpers Head Coach Scott Roth to recognise the contibution of key players, administrators and volunteers in Tasmania's rich basketball history. 

Hear more stories from Bloodlines members on the Tasmania JackJumpers Facebook - @TasmaniaJackJumpers 

Photo credit: The Examiner Newspaper