LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After a nationwide search, Lydia Mitchell will become the next head coach of Occidental Women's Soccer. Mitchell, previously an assistant at NCAA Division III institution Oberlin College, will be the fifth head coach in the program's history, starting January 20.
 
Mitchell, who spent four years at Oberlin, was a former Division III student-athlete at Knox College in Illinois where she won three Midwest Conference regular season championships and one tournament championship.
 
"Lydia brings a wealth of Division III experience, both as a former student-athlete and as a coach, along with a strong commitment to student-athlete development and competitive excellence," said Oxy's Director of Athletics Shanda Ness. "Throughout the search process, it was clear that she is deeply invested in building meaningful relationships, fostering a positive team culture, and supporting the holistic experience of our student-athletes."
 
Ness noted Mitchell's history of success as something that excited her and the search committee. She believes Mitchell can foster a competitive team culture at Oxy.
 
At Oberlin, Mitchell helped coach 12 All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honorees, a three-time NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, an NCAC All-Decade recipient, two All-Ohio selections and two United Soccer Coaches All-Region athletes.
 
Mitchell's student-athletes shined in the classroom. Forty were selected to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll, ten tabbed as College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District and four members of the Academic All-Ohio team.
 
Prior to her time at Oberlin, Mitchell spent one season as an assistant track & field coach at Knox while serving as a student engagement ambassador.
 
Mitchell dominated as a two-sport athlete in soccer and track at Knox. From 2018-21 – with a full soccer season cut out due to the COVID-19 pandemic – Mitchell amassed an MWC Newcomer of the Year selection, two First Team All-MWC mentions and capped off her career as the MWC Offensive Player of the Year. Mitchell scored 38 goals and assisted on 16 across 63 games played. The Prairie Fire earned a record of 37-16-8 across Mitchell's three full seasons.
 
Mitchell was no slouch on the track. She still holds the Knox program record in the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash (59.05 and 57.91).
 
Mitchell graduated from Knox in 2021 with two bachelor's degrees – a BA in Political Science and BS in Environmental Science.
 
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