Hall of Fame
Alan Mitchell ‘77 was an outstanding three-sport Catholic Central (CC) athlete. He played football, basketball, and ran track.
Mitchell’s light shined bright on the football field as he played on both sides of the ball. On offense, he started as both a wide receiver and running back. On defense, he was a standout as a hard-hitting defensive back. Despite a senior year injury that limited his play for much of the season, Mitchell was a highly recruited athlete who averaged 11.9 yards rushing, 22 yards per catch, 32.1 yards per return, and scored 9 TDs.
He was chosen for the "Detroit Free Press 1975 All Catholic Dream Team" and "All-State Honorable Mention." In 1977, the highly recruited wide receiver and return man was listed in the "Top 10 Most Wanted Prep Gridders in Michigan" and the top 50 recruits nationally.
Alan took his talents to the basketball court, where he was a three-year letter winner. As the starting point guard, Alan’s crowd-pleasing dunks and defense helped lead the Shamrocks to Catholic High School League (CHSL) championships in 1974-75 and 1975-76.
In 1975-76, CC won the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) District, Regional, and State Basketball State Championships. The big game of the state tournament was the semifinal against Ervin "Magic" Johnson’s number one and undefeated Lansing Everett team. Alan was a big part of that upset, using athleticism and quickness to stymie the Everett offense.
Alan was a top-level sprinter, hurdler, and high/long jumper for the Shamrock track and field team in the spring.
Alan continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he was a three-year starter for legendary coach Bo Schembechler. Alan, a wide receiver in tandem with All-American Anthony Carter, played in 47 games and had 27 receptions for 439 yards (16.9 yards per catch) and two touchdowns—quality statistics for a wide receiver in Bo’s offense. At Michigan, Alan played in the 1978, 1979, and 1981 Rose Bowls vs. the University of Washington (twice) and the University of Southern California. In 1979, Alan played in the Gator Bowl vs. North Carolina. The ‘81 Rose Bowl vs. Washington was Schembechler’s first bowl win combined with a Big Ten Championship. Alan played on the 1979 team that recorded Coach Schembechler’s 100th win in a victory over Michigan State.
After graduating from The University of Michigan, Alan Mitchell embarked on a career in business development as an entrepreneur and consultant.
He has been married to his wife, Shoba, for 37 years. They have three children: Brendan, Rekha, and Tierra. Alan is grateful for the Catholic Central Basilian Fathers, teachers, and classmates who mentored, nurtured, and prepared him for manhood Shamrock Style. He is proud to come from a tradition that stands clear, remains unique, and has a lasting positive impact on society.
