| Title: | Director of Athletics |
| Phone: | 417-483-6207 |
| Email: | mmitts@cottey.edu |
Dr. Maryann Mitts finishes her coaching career at Cottey College after a 7-year stretch in the classroom as a highly decorated assistant professor of Kinesiology at Missouri Southern State University and most recently Missouri State University. Mitts finished her coaching career at Missouri Southern as the winningest coach in women's basketball history with 189 wins, 60 more than the next closest total, and an astonishing 11 MIAA conference tournament appearances. During her tenure at MSSU, she coached 22 All-MIAA players, 57 MIAA All-Academic selections, 3 Presidential Scholars, and 1 Verizon Academic- All-American.
Mitts had an incredible run at Rockhurst College prior to her time at Missouri Southern State University. Rockhurst claimed the Midwest Region Championship in route to a 24-7 record, a Sweet Sixteen finish at the NAIA National Championships, and achieved the highest ranking in school history (#8) in the national polls. She achieved 83 wins in her 5 years at the helm of Rockhurst ‘s women's basketball program and was instrumental in transitioning the athletics program from NAIA to NCAA II status. In all, Mitts tallied two NAIA Regional Coach of the year awards for both basketball and tennis, Midwest Region Coach of the Year (Tennis), and with 272 career victories, she is ranked among the Top 50 NCAA II women’s basketball coaches in the nation.
Mitts was a two-sport All-American and two-time Scholastic All-American in volleyball and basketball at Rockhurst University. As a high school senior at St. Teresa’s Academy, Mitts earned All-State recognition in basketball and volleyball as well as being named “Academy Girl” for outstanding leadership in academics and athletics as well as excellence in moral, ethical, and religious characteristics.
Other recognitions include being named one of the “Top 29 Young People Under 30” by Kansas City Magazine, awarded the Philanthropist of the Year by the MSSU Foundation, and named Outstanding Ph.D. student by the University of Arkansas.
Mitts earned her B.A. in Secondary Education from Rockhurst University before earning multiple post graduate degrees. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Arkansas, her M.A. in Pastoral Studies from the University of Loyola-New Orleans, and her M.A. in Higher Ed Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
