A Message from the FHC Board: Thank You, Mitty

It is with a mix of immense pride and genuine sadness that we announce Dan “Mitty” Mitchell’s resignation as Head Coach of our Men’s Premier League team.

For five years, Dan has been so much more than a coach to Footscray Hockey Club. He has been a driving force behind the development of our senior and junior programs, consistently raising the bar for high performance across the entire Men’s section of the club. Under his guidance, our Premier League team reached the finals twice and, more importantly, built a culture of passion and pride that will long outlast his time with us — a culture Dan embodied through his own actions every single day.
Dan’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond Footscray. During his tenure with us, he’s taken on Head Coach roles across state and national programs — from the Hockey Club Melbourne women’s team in Hockey One, to the Australian Men’s U18 team, and now, most recently, his appointment as Head Coach of the Adelaide Fire Men’s Hockey One team. It’s clear Dan has a bright and well-earned pathway ahead of him in the high performance system, and as a club, we couldn’t be prouder to have played a small part in that journey.

On a personal note, I want to thank Dan for an outstanding working relationship over the last four years. Beyond the wins, the finals, and the countless hours of coaching, Dan has shown himself to be a genuinely good human being first and foremost — and for that, both the club and I are truly grateful.

On behalf of the FHC Board and our entire club community, thank you, Mitty, for everything you’ve given us. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours, and we’ll be cheering loudly as your high performance career continues to soar.

Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
On behalf of Mitty, below are some parting thoughts he shared with myself and the board:
“I’ve always invested heavily in the people and programs I’ve been fortunate enough to lead. Whether it was planning sessions, mentoring players, supporting volunteers or trying to create an environment where people could become the best version of themselves, I’ve always tried to give everything I had.”

“I leave knowing I gave this club everything I had, and I’m proud of that.”

“This decision isn’t about the club or the people within it. It’s my decision.”

“To the players, thank you. Coaching you has been the greatest privilege of my time at the club. Watching people grow – both as players and as people – is why I coach, and I’m incredibly grateful for the trust, commitment and friendships that have come from this journey.

To the volunteers, support staff and everyone who gives their time behind the scenes, thank you. Community sport only exists because people are willing to give more than they receive, and I’ve always appreciated that.

I leave with nothing but respect for the people in this club and genuine hope for its future. I believe there is enormous potential here, and I hope the club continues to build an environment where people feel connected, supported and proud to belong.

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of that journey.”
Remainder of season

Dan’s last game coaching the PL team was this afternoon’s fixture against MCC.
The remaining rounds will see Paul Schram primarily take the reins of the PL team on an interim basis, with support from Lach Anderson. Lach will step in for the Greensborough game with Paul away at the National Country Championships where he will be coaching the Victoria team however he will be back for the closing rounds against Mentone and Hawthorn.
Thanks to Schramy and Ando for stepping in for the remainder of the season.
Kind Regards,
Colin Keating
Men’s Director