Bobby Mitchell became the third head coach of the UBC Okanagan women's basketball team since the team joined the Canada West conference in 2011-12 ahead of the 2018-19 season.
After five years as an assistant, Mitchell assumed the title of interim head coach for the Heat women’s basketball team for the 2018/19 season before having the interim tag dropped from his title for the 2019-20 campaign.
For three seasons Bobby was the lead assistant with the women’s team beginning in 2015 after two seasons as an assistant.
During his tenure as head coach of the Heat, UBCO has enjoyed unprecedented success at the Canada West level. His team's have qualified for the Canada West playoffs in three consecutive seasons, including posting the program's first-ever win in the Canada West playoffs during the 2023-24 postseason, a victory over the Trinity Western Spartans.
Mitchell has also helped the program set a new benchmark for wins in a Canada West season, when they won 11 during the 2023-24 season.
An extremely successful coach at the high school level, Mitchell was the head coach of the senior girls' team at Vernon Secondary from 2003-2012 , posting 9 straight AA Provincial championship appearances, highlighted by a silver medal win in 2012 and bronze medal win in 2008, with his teams never finishing outside top 8.
At the Okanagan Valley level, Mitchell captured 3 Valley Championship pennants for Vernon Secondary in 2008, 2012, and 2013.
He has also worked extremely hard over the last few years developing club basketball in the Okanagan and has coached in the Junior Heat program as the head coach for the U17 team since 2012. His experience coaching local basketball is evidenced by the number of junior players that have played for UBC Okanagan and a number of other post-secondary schools. The list ranges from UBCO all-time leading scorer, Emily Kanester, to Jordan Korol, the Canada West Student-Athlete award winner in 2018-19.
Bobby's connection with the Jr. Heat Basketball program has allowed the Heat to sign and keep the best prospects in the Valley. Over a dozen players from the Jr. Heat ranks have suited up for the varsity squad.
Prior to coaching the Jr. Heat, Bobby coached other Okanagan Clubs since 2008.
Coaching Record
| Year |
Overall |
League |
Playoff |
Season Finish |
Playoff Finish |
| GP |
W |
L |
% |
GP |
W |
L |
% |
GP |
W |
L |
% |
| 2023/24 |
22 |
12 |
10 |
.545 |
20 |
11 |
9 |
.550 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
.500 |
9th in CW |
Eliminated in CW Quarter-finals |
| 2022/23 |
21 |
10 |
11 |
.476 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
.500 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
10th in CW |
Eliminated in CW 1st Round |
| 2021/22 |
19 |
7 |
12 |
.368 |
18 |
7 |
11 |
.389 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
5th in CW West Division |
Eliminated in CW 1st Round |
| 2020/21 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2019/20 |
20 |
2 |
18 |
.100 |
20 |
2 |
18 |
.100 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15th in CW |
-- |
| 2018/19 |
20 |
1 |
19 |
.050 |
20 |
1 |
19 |
.050 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
17th in CW |
-- |
| Total: |
102 |
32 |
70 |
.314 |
98 |
31 |
67 |
.316 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
