Erik Mitchell

Athlete: Football – Baseball - Basketball

Erik Mitchell attended Linden High from 1986 until 1990. While at Linden, Erik earned
6 varsity letters as a three sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He played
varsity basketball 1 year and varsity baseball for 3 years. Erik was a member of M.L.L.
Championship baseball teams in 1988 & 1989 and was named team captain in 1990.

In football, Erik earned varsity letters in 1988 & 1989 and helped the Lions win the
M.L.L. Championship both years. During his senior season of 1989, Erik was named
team captain and helped anchor both the offensive and defensive lines for the Lions. He
earned All-League honors at offensive tackle and was named the M.L.L. Lineman of the
Year. Erik was also named to the Stockton Record All-Area first team and to the Cal-Hi
All-State Football first team. Reflecting on Erik’s time at Linden High School, football
coach Mark Miller said, “Eric is a great example of ‘you reap what you sow’. Eric
combined dedication, intelligence, talent, size and determination to achieve his goals.
His success on the football field and in the classroom was not an accident.”
Upon graduation from Linden High, Erik was heavily recruited to play football at Oregon
and UCLA but chose to follow a life long dream and attend the Air Force Academy.
During his first two years as a member of the football squad, Erik was part of the scout
team that helped prepare the starting team for each week’s upcoming games. His efforts
on the scout team earned him a spot on the traveling squad for the 1991 Liberty Bowl as a
sophomore. During his junior and senior seasons, Erik was the starting center for the
Falcons, helping lead the way for their powerful wishbone offense. After the 1992
season, the Falcons earned another berth in the Liberty Bowl against Mississippi.
Following his senior year, Erik was selected to the Blue-Gray All-Star Game but was
unable to play due to injury.

Erik graduated from the Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil
engineering and served his country on active duty for the next 6 years, rising to the rank
of Captain. During that time he was stationed in both Grand Forks, North Dakota and
Fairbanks, Alaska. Retired from the Air Force, Erik is now a licensed Professional
Engineer and began his own engineering firm in 2004. Erik and his wife Jill live in
Woodland Park, Colorado with their two sons Connor & Fisher and their daughter
Sophia. The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Erik
Mitchell into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic careers at Linden High
School and the Air Force Academy.