Steelers' John Mitchell, Pittsburgh native Larry Brown earn NJCAA Hall of Fame honors
Pittsburgh will be well represented when the National Junior College Athletic Association Foundation Hall of Fame inducts its inaugural class virtually June 24.
The seven-member class includes two honorees with ties to the city: Schenley graduate and Clairton native Larry Brown and Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell.
Others in the class are Bob McAdoo, George Killian, Lea Plarski, Sheryl Swoopes and Dick “Night Train” Lane.
According to the NJCAA website, the Hall of Fame was created to honor “individuals who have paved the way for opportunities at the two-year level — athletically, professionally, and those who have impacted the association through other areas of influence.” Administrators, coaches, students and meritorious contributors are considered.
Congratulations to Coach John Mitchell on being elected to the NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame. There isn’t a more deserving man to be a part of their inaugural class. Coach Mitch is one of the best ever.
— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) May 10, 2021
After attending Schenley, Brown spent two years at Dodge City, Kan., before finishing his college career at Kansas State. He became the first player in the history of the Washington Football Team to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, which he did twice in his career. He was a four-time Pro Bowl pick, two-time first-team All-Pro, and he was named NFL MVP after the 1972 season.
Mitchell has been on the Steelers staff since 1994 and yielded his on-field coaching duties in 2018. He remains the team’s assistant head coach.
Mitchell spent the 1969-70 seasons at Eastern Arizona Junior College before returning to his native Alabama, where he became the first Black player in Crimson Tide history. He also was the first Black player to be named team captain.
After his NFL playing career was cut short, Mitchell joined “Bear” Bryant’s staff in Alabama in 1973, becoming the first Black member of the Crimson Tide coaching staff and the youngest assistant coach in college football.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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