Osborn to retire as Cyclone AD, basketball coach

Iowa’s number four all-time win leader in hoops doesn’t rule out future return to coaching

 HARLAN (Jan. 17) -- On the day after Christmas, Mitch Osborn went to his office at Harlan Community High School and typed up a formal letter of resignation.
 It was a decision he had been mentally wrestling with for weeks, and he wanted to see what his thoughts looked like on paper.
 About two weeks later, Osborn submitted that letter to the Harlan Community Schools. As was first reported by the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil late Thursday night, Osborn will be retiring as the HCS Activities Director and head boys basketball coach as of June 30, pending school board approval.
 He has spent 35 years in education and coaching at Elk Horn-Kimballton, Pomeroy-Palmer and HCHS, including the last 22 in Harlan.
 “There were a lot of sleepless nights,” said Osborn, 56. “From Thanksgiving on, I have not slept worth a hoot because I’ve been back and forth. I figured out that when I was 50/50, that was my answer. If it’s 50/50... you get out. It’s just the way it is. It’s time.”
 While his duties as AD will end later this summer, Osborn’s coaching career won’t necessarily be over when the Cyclones wrap up the 2018-19 season. At some point later this year, Osborn will be eligible to reapply for the boys basketball position.
 Osborn recently improved to fourth all-time on Iowa’s list of boys basketball coaching win leaders with 687. His record of 687-161 computes to a robust winning percentage of .810 and his record at HCHS stands at 421-112. Osborn is tied with Jim Eekhoff of Western Christian for the most state tournament appearances in Iowa with 18 and he has coached three state title winners - Pomeroy-Palmer in 1994 and HCHS in 2004 and 2006.
 In addition to his own coaching success, Osborn has overseen a golden age for the athletic department at HCHS. Since taking over AD duties in the fall of 1998, the Cyclones have claimed five state titles in football, two each in baseball, boys basketball, volleyball and girls basketball, one in boys track and another in girls cross country. There was the “Cyclone Slam” of 2003-2004 when HCHS held state titles in four boys sports at once (track, baseball, football and basketball) and the congruent championship repeats in volleyball and girls basketball from 2013-2015.

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

Comment Here