Photo: New Center Hill football coach Mitchell Harville and school principal Jason Witt chat after Harville was introduced on Tuesday afternoon. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Feb. 18, 2025-A familiar face from years past on DeSoto County football sidelines is returning to coach in the county again this coming season.
He’s had several years of experience as a head coach and an assistant coach, but after a few years away from DeSoto County, new Center Hill head football coach Mitchell Harville is back to lead the Mustangs. Harville returns from a highly successful program and a championship ring from Grenada.
Harville fills the void left as Alan Peacock departs for family reasons.
It was easy to sense the excitement Harville had about the job Tuesday afternoon after talking with his new players for the first time. At Grenada, Center Hill played the Chargers on two occasions and Harville said the Mustangs were impressive, even in losses.
“They came down and played us in a 28-14 final score game, but it was a game that was really just a few plays away from being close with a team that is going to go on and win a state championship,” Harville said.
Harville was a longtime assistant at Horn Lake, including one year a coordinator before taking over as head coach of the Eagles in 2020. During two seasons at Horn Lake, Harville recorded a 10-10 record that featured a playoff appearance in 2020, losing to Clinton in the first round of the 6A postseason.
It was after the 2021 season that he left Horn Lake and arrived in Grenada as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
Watching his new players in the weight room Tuesday got Harville really excited about the team, he said, adding the Mustang program is close to being a solid contender at the state level.
“It’s a school that can really perform highly at the state level in football,” Harville said. “I feel like the kids we have here and the families we have here are really invested in what’s going on and I feel that this is a place that can really exceed a lot of expectations here from the past.”
Offensive schemes and defensive philosophy will be based on the players of the roster.
“We’re going to create space and we’re going to build around the players that we have, whatever puts them in the best positions,” Harville said. “I’ve got things that I like but we’re going to try and build it to fit the players that we have to get the most out of them.”
A Meet and Greet with Harville has been planned for football players and families on Monday, Feb. 24, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Due to school being closed Thursday February 20th, our Meet and Greet with Coach Harville has been rescheduled. We look forward to seeing our football families Monday night, February 24th! pic.twitter.com/wZNIpfXe7k
