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Sam Mitchell

Position	Small forward
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Nationality	USA
Born	September 2, 1963 (1963-09-02) (age 44) Columbus, Georgia
College	Mercer
Pro career	1989–2002
Former teams	Minnesota Timberwolves (1989–1992) Indiana Pacers (1992–1995) Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2002)
Awards	2007 NBA Coach of the Year

Samuel (Sam) E. Mitchell, Jr. (born September 2, 1963 in Columbus, Georgia) nicknamed "smitch" is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association.

A Columbus High School graduate, the 6'6", 210 lb small forward was drafted out of Mercer University with the seventh pick of the third round (54th overall) by the Houston Rockets in the 1985 NBA Draft, but did not commence play in the league until joining 1989 expansion team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, in their inaugural season. Prior to his NBA career, he spent three seasons in the Continental Basketball Association and in the French basketball league team of Montpellier (coached by Pierre Galle) for an additional two seasons. After that, he spent three seasons with the Wolves until September 8, 1992 when he was traded along with point guard Pooh Richardson to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for small forward Chuck Person and point guard Micheal Williams. During his playing days, he scored a career-high 37 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 3, 1991. There he spent another three seasons before returning to Minnesota for the remainder of his playing career until retiring in 2002.

He returned to the NBA later that year as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons until 2004, when he briefly became a part of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats as their top assistant coach, until moving on to the Toronto Raptors when he was named as the sixth head coach in Raptors history after incumbent Kevin O'Neill was fired.

He is married and has four children.

He was named the coach of the month in January 2007 for his effort bringing the Toronto Raptors back to .500 and leading the Atlantic Division. On 30 March 2007, Mitchell got his 100th win as NBA coach when the Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.^[1]

Mitchell also led the Raptors to their first division title as the team won the Atlantic Division in the NBA's Eastern Conference in the 2006-07 NBA season. On 24 April 2007, he was named 2006–07 NBA Coach of the Year.^[2] On 22 May 2007 after leading the Raptors to their first playoffs appearance since 2002, and after much speculation, Mitchell was signed to a four year contract with the Raptors.^[3]

On November 25, 2007 Mitchell surpassed Lenny Wilkens for the most wins in team history.

• Profile as a player
• Profile as a coach