University of West Alabama

Mitchell Kessler joined the Panther coaching staff in the fall of 2021.

In his first season working primarily with the throws, he helped guide Jessie Stenger to the NCAA Division III Championships in the discus where she went on to become just the second Panther in women's track & field history to garner All-American honors. He also helped develop the HCAC outstanding thrower of the year, Jessica Beckman. 

In 2023, Kessler's success working with the throws continued as he helped mentor both Jessie Stenger and Jessica Beckman who qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also helped Beckman garner her second straight HCAC outstanding thrower of the year honor as well as her first CoSIDA Academic All-District accolade. 

Kessler's Accomplishments:

Competed in six indoor events and five outdoor events as part of the University of Louisville Track & Field team ... competed in hammer throw weight throw and shot put … posted career-best weight throw of 17.22m/56-6 at ACC Indoor Championships and career-best hammer throw of 55.09m/180-9 at ACC Outdoor Championships … turned in top-3 finishes at Illini Classic and Louisville Invitational.

2016-17: Competed in 12 meets throughout indoor and outdoor season… recorded a career best weight throw at the ACC Indoor Championships with a toss of 16.67m/54-08.25… threw a personal best in the hammer with a mark of 53.04m/174-00 at the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational… had a personal record in the shot put with a throw of 14.49m/47-06.50.

Prep: 2015 state champion in the shot put…holds school record in shot put…2015 state qualifier in the discus event…three-time sectional champion…two-time regional champion…also lettered in football.

Career Highlights
NCAA Provisional

• 18.53m, 60-09.50, weight throw, Mo. Southern St. (2020 Indoors)
• 59.90m, 196-6, hammer, Texas (2021 Outdoors)

NCAA Rankings

• 23rd, hammer, 59.90m, 196-6, Texas (2021 Outdoors)
• 26th, weight throw, 18.53m, 60-09.50, Mo. Southern St. (2020 Indoors)

Harding Career Rankings

• 1st, weight throw, 18.53m, 60-09.60??????
• 1st, hammer, 59.90m, 196-6
• 6th, discus, 46.19m, 151-6

GAC Results

• 1st, shot put, 14.94m, 49-00.25 (2021 Outdoors)
• 1st, hammer, 53.39m, 175-2 (2021 Outdoors)
• 4th, discus, 46.19m, 151-6 (2021 Outdoors)
• 7th, javelin, 38.50m, 126-4 (2021 Outdoors)

Event Victories

• Weight Throw, Oklahoma, 17.88m, 58-8 (2020 Indoors)
• Hammer, Harding, 58.40m, 191-7 (2021 Outdoors)
• Hammer, Rhodes, 59.60m, 195-6 (2021 Outdoors)
• Hammer, GAC Championships, 53.39m, 175-2 (2021 Outdoors)
• Shot Put, GAC Championships, 14.94m, 49-00.25 (2021 Outdoors)

Awards
Conference

• 2021 All-GAC (first team, shot put)
• 2021 All-GAC (first team, hammer)
• 2021 All-GAC (second team, discus)

Academic

• 2021 USTFCCCA All-Academic

Previous Schools

• Transferred to Harding from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky

Stats:

• Placed eighth in the hammer throw at the outdoor ACC Championships with a mark of 56.50m (185'4") as a junior ...
• won the hammer at the Louisville Invitational with a season-best throw of 61.28m (201'0") ...
• placed sixth in the weight throw with a season-best mark of 18.86m (61'10.5") at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships ...
• placed seventh in the hammer at the 2018 ACC Outdoor Championships with a throw of 55.09m (180'9") ...
• placed ninth in the weight throw at the 2018 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 17.22m (56'6") ...
• placed 10th in the hammer at the 2017 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 51.04m (167'5") ...
• 14th in the 2017 weight throw at the 2017 ACC Indoor Championships with a throw of 16.67m (54'8.25") ...
• career best marks are 61.28m (201'0") in the outdoor hammer and 18.86m (61'10.5") in the indoor weight throw
• A 2015 graduate of Crown Point High School in Crown Point, Indiana
• Honors: three-time section champion and two-time regional champion in the shot put ... 2015 IHSAA shot put state champion