 "Photo: AP File Photo")
WASHINGTON—Washington Redskins running backs coach Stump Mitchell has accepted the head coaching job at Southern University.
Mitchell met with new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan on Monday morning and turned in his final report on the team's running backs. Mitchell then planned to drive south and appear at a news conference in Baton Rouge on Wednesday.
Mitchell interviewed with Southern last month and was offered the job Dec. 31. He said at the time he wanted to wait to see what happened with the Redskins coaching situation before giving an answer.
After Shanahan was hired, Mitchell said he interviewed to stay with the Redskins but already had his mind set on going to Southern.
"He wanted to know what I wanted to do," Mitchell said, "and this is what I want to do."
While Shanahan didn't tell him that he wouldn't be retained, Mitchell expects Washington's coaching staff to have a new look.
"I'm doing the same thing at Southern," Mitchell said. "I want to take in my own people."
Mitchell joined the Redskins in 2008, coming from the Seattle Seahawks staff with coach Jim Zorn. Zorn was fired last week after the Redskins went 4-12.
Southern fired coach Pete Richardson last month after a 6-5 season. He had been with the school for 17 years.
Mitchell was an NFL running back for nine seasons and has been an assistant coach in the NFL for 11 years. He also spent three years as the head coach at Morgan State.
Southern athletic director Greg LaFleur played with Mitchell on the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981-86.
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