MITCHELL, S.D. — A familiar face is returning to the sideline.
Mitchell High School has announced the hiring of Wes Morgan as the next head coach of the girls basketball program, bringing back a coach who previously guided the Kernels for more than a decade.
Morgan, who led Mitchell for 11 seasons before stepping away in 2019, replaces Dave Brooks following four years at the helm. The hire is pending approval by the Mitchell School Board.
Activities Director Cory Aadland said Morgan’s experience and long-standing connection to the program made him the clear choice.
“I am thrilled to welcome Wes back as our head girls basketball coach,” Aadland said. “His experience, passion for the game, and deep connection to our school and community make him the ideal person to lead our program forward. He has been instrumental in our recent success and we look forward to the continued success and development of the girls basketball program under his leadership.”
Morgan returns to a program that has enjoyed recent postseason success, including back-to-back fifth-place finishes at the Class AA state tournament.
Although he stepped away as head coach seven years ago, Morgan never left the Mitchell basketball scene. He spent four years as an assistant with the Kernels boys program and most recently served as an assistant for the girls team, maintaining close relationships with players and coaches.
That continuity, paired with experience on both the boys and girls sides, gives Morgan a unique perspective as he steps back into the role.
“I am very excited to return as the head coach of the Kernel girls basketball program,” Morgan said. “We have a great thing going in Mitchell with the Kernels and the Palace City Basketball programs. With two consecutive fifth-place finishes at the state tournament, we are in a good spot and look forward to building on that momentum.”
During his previous tenure, Morgan compiled a 134-125 record and led the Kernels to six state tournament appearances. His teams reached three consecutive state championship games from 2012 to 2014, highlighted by a state title in 2012.
When Morgan stepped down in 2019, it wasn’t due to a lack of passion for coaching, but rather a desire to spend more time watching his son, Steele, compete as he entered high school.
Even then, Morgan left the door open for a return. A possibility that has now come full circle.
Now, with years of continued involvement in the program and a new generation of players, Morgan steps back into a familiar role with renewed perspective and momentum already in place.