ELHS Athletic Director, Basketball Coach Honored by State Orgs

Few things bring a community together like high school sports. This year, two East Lansing High School sports figures have been recognized for doing just that—uniting the community while helping student athletes grow into the kind of leaders any district could be proud of.

Both East Lansing High School boys basketball Coach Ray Mitchell and Athletic Director Nikki Norris were recently honored by state organizations.

Ray Mitchell is an East Lansing man through and through. He graduated from ELHS in 1992, playing both football and basketball. He earned a basketball scholarship to Eastern Michigan University but decided not to pursue a career in the sport.

“I stayed away from coaching as long as I could,” he told East Lansing Info in a Zoom interview. “But my old coach, the late, great Chris Ferguson [ELHS basketball coach], asked me to help him, and I couldn’t tell him no.”

Mitchell said that growing up in Pontiac, he used to insist he didn’t want to coach suburban kids like those in East Lansing. But after several years of helping students at Sexton High School in Lansing, something clicked.

“I want to build a legacy here,” he said. “I grew up here.”

Mitchell now works at the Michigan Athletic Club as a basketball trainer and is entering his eighth year coaching boys basketball at East Lansing. Last season, Mitchell coached the Trojans to a state championship.

“Everyone has a common goal,” he said. “Everyone wants to be their best, and it’s kind of easy when you invest time in them. I’m what you’d call a gym rat. I try to invest in the kids before the season even starts. A lot of them I’ve known since they were younger—through camps and things like that.

“The key is just to show them that you care about them, and that you’re willing to help them get better.”

When asked if any child can be successfully coached, he said each individual is different. Some are quick learners; others require time and trust.

“It can be really random,” he said. “I wish I could just package it so everybody would develop the same, but it doesn’t happen like that.

“I’m gonna keep doing what I do. This team I’ve got this year—I’m going to coach them harder than I ever have.”

The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan named Mitchell the 2025 Boys’ High School Overall Coach of the Year.

Nikki Norris grew up in Ithaca, Michigan, playing nearly every sport—and marching in the band, too. She ran track at Alma College and decided near the end of her time there that she wanted to become a teacher. That’s also where she first tried coaching.

“While I was getting my teaching certificate,” she said, “I became the assistant volleyball coach at Alma College. I was only a year older than my players, but it was a really good experience.”

She went on to coach and teach in Carson City and Corunna before making her way to East Lansing.

“My mom was an elementary teacher,” she said. “My dad was a high school administrator, and in spite of the fact that they told me, ‘Whatever you do, don’t be a teacher,’ I just really enjoyed working with people—students especially.

“It just felt right.”

When asked to explain the breadth of her role as athletic director, Norris smiled and began listing off a dozen tasks that often go unappreciated but make every game possible.

“It depends on the day, but it’s everything from running games to changing toilet paper,” she said.

Norris works with other districts’ athletic directors to schedule games, arranges refereeing and officiating duties, coordinates transportation and attends statewide meetings with her peers. She strives to attend every home game, meet and invitational—despite juggling many sports each season.

Another part of her job is handling disruptive parents and spectators.

“For the most part, parents are advocating for their child,” she said. “I try to remember that in our interactions. If they feel their child has been wronged by a coach, official, or the opposing team, they’re usually acting from the heart.”

She reminds parents that yelling at officials won’t make a difference—or change a call. Most are receptive, she said, but she has occasionally had to remove people from events.

“It’s not a part of the job that I love,” Norris said, “but the reality is we do have certain expectations. There are things we just don’t tolerate, and if you choose to do those things, then I do have to ask people to leave.”

The pandemic hit shortly after Norris started, impacting every part of her work. Her first priority remained the same: keeping student-athletes safe.

“The boys basketball team was playing in the district tournament, the girls were in the regional tournament,” she recalled. “That Thursday, we were headed to Holt for the girls’ regional final with full spectators. By noon, we were down to two or three spectators per kid—and by the end of the day, the event was canceled.”

Like everyone else, she spent a lot of time on Zoom, working with fellow administrators to create a plan for students.

“Yes, I’m the athletic director,” she said, “but I’ll always be a teacher first and foremost. That spring when we canceled everything, it was really hard.

“My coaches were amazing. We talked about how much of an impact they have on our kids, and they really committed to checking in with them. My team of coaches was constantly trying to make sure whatever we were doing protected our kids while still giving them an opportunity to play.”

This year, Norris received the Allen W. Bush Award from the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

“I always tell my high school students, when they ask what my favorite sport is, I just tell them: whichever one you’re playing,” she said.

“East Lansing is a special place. I love our community, I love our kids, I love our staff. I made the decision to come here eight years ago from a smaller district. I wanted a bigger challenge. I wanted to experience more diversity among our students and staff.

“The professional growth has been immense. The standards, the ideals, and the philosophy of the district have really shaped me. So, I’ll stay as long as they’ll let me.”