The state of Virginia lost one of its premier coaches in multiple sports early on the morning of Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

Danny Mitchell, who spent over 50 years his life involved in baseball and football at Hampton High, passed away at the age of 66 - less than two months before his 67th birthday. He was hospitalized two weekends ago following a stroke and suffered cardiac arrest a few days later.

The 1971 Hampton High graduate played catcher for the Crabbers on the baseball field, later going on to Concord College in West Virginia and even in the Baltimore Orioles organization before turning his career to coaching. In 1979, he joined the staff of Mike Smith - the man with more victories and state titles than anyone else in Virginia High School League Football history - and it came ten years after helping the Crabbers win a state title as an offensive and defensive lineman.

Fittingly enough, Mitchell earned a reputation as one of the state's best line coaches as the Crabbers won ten more state titles to add to their storied history in football. During the 1980's, his true love of baseball led him to being named the school's Head Coach in that sport.

In the spring of 2018, Mitchell's contributions to the school and specifically dedication to the sport of baseball was honored. Hampton dedicated to the baseball yard, "Danny Mitchell Field." That didn't make him want to retire or keep from impacting young lives either.

Just last year, the Crabbers won the Peninsula District baseball crown and finished with a 17-2 overall record. When named interim Head Football Coach for a brief period in 2018, he relinquished those duties to concentrate on baseball, but also returned to the gridiron and helped Hampton - which missed the playoffs two seasons ago - return to the postseason in Class 4 last November.

Mitchell is survived by Sindi, with whom he was married to for 46 years, and their three children - Matt, Danny Jr. and Brooke - as well as two grandchildren.

Hampton Head Baseball Coach Danny Mitchell joins Coach Ed Young and VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield during High School Sports Talk on ESPN Radio 94.1 on Saturday, April 13, 2019 to discuss the great start for his Crabbers.

Mitchell's Crabbers opened the season 8-0 overall, outscoring their opponents 84-7 with five shutouts.

In addition, Coach Mitchell squared off against Ed Young in FACT or FICTION beginning at the 16:30 mark, each testing their knowledge of sports trivia.