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Mitchell leaves basketball team, Trost joins

Lose a player, gain a coach.

A little more than a week after sophomore forward Willie Mitchell decided to leave the Michigan basketball team, the Wolverines have hired a new assistant coach, Scott Trost.

Mitchell, who was part of Michigan's highly-touted 1994 recruiting class, is leaving the squad in search of greener pastures elsewhere, according to coach Steve Fisher.

"(Mitchell) is looking for a better situation in terms of a playing opportunity," Fisher said.

Although he said he had not talked with the rest of the team individually, Fisher said he held a team meeting before Mitchell's departure became public April 23.

"Willie was a two-year member of the team," Fisher said. "We'll miss him."

Mitchell missed seven games last season because of a knee injury he sustained in December. The 6-8 Detroit native played in 25 of Michigan's 32 games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.

Although Mitchell downplayed his knee problems, Fisher said they did indeed hamper his play, making him less effective after the forward returned to action.

"It was a pretty significant knee injury," Fisher said.

Mitchell has not announced which school he plans to attend, but published reports indicate that his top choices are Alabama-Birmingham, Syracuse and Tulane.

The good tidings for the Wolverines this summer involve the arrival of Trost, who fills the position vacated by former assistant Jay Smith.

Smith is leaving Michigan to become head coach at Grand Valley State after seven years on Fisher's staff.

The 33-year-old Trost comes to Ann Arbor from Elmhurst (Illinois) College, a Div. III school where he was head coach for the past four seasons.

Fisher said he has known Trost for some time, and believes he will be a good fit for the Michigan program.

"(Trost) is a hard-working, friendly, successful coach," Fisher said. "We're excited to have him."

Trost has been at Elmhurst for the past seven years, the first three of which he spent as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

During Trost's tenure as coach, the Bluejays compiled a 51-49 record, making Trost's .510 winning percentage the third-best in school history.

Trost said that he is ready to take advantage of the chance to coach the Wolverines.

"I'm leaving a place that means a lot to me for an opportunity that is once in a lifetime."