Brittney Mitchem

The woman who built the Minot State women’s wrestling program from the ground up has announced her resignation.

Coach Brittney Mitchem submitted her resignation on Wednesday, effective immediately, as she plans to focus her attention on her family moving forward.

“I would like to thank Coach Brittney Mitchem for her service as the head women’s wrestling coach at Minot State University,” Minot State’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Harmon, said. “As the first head coach of the program, Coach Mitchem played a pivotal role in establishing and shaping MSU women’s wrestling, laying a strong foundation for its future. Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to her student-athletes have made a positive impact, and we are grateful for everything she has contributed to the program.”

Hired in the fall of 2021, Mitchem built the Beaver team from scratch as Minot State began competing in the fall of 2022.

During her 4 seasons as the head coach for Minot State, the Beavers have qualified wrestlers for the NCWWC National Tournament every year, including sending Jazmin Gorder (123), Annika Gotlieb (130), and Nina Sandoval (155) to nationals in the program’s first season of competition. In total, six Minot State women have competed at nationals over the past three seasons under Mitchem’s leadership.

Minot State assistant coach Keegan Berry will serve as interim head coach for the program as a search for the new head coach gets underway immediately.