After 35 years, Mitchell High School's first and only head volleyball coach in program history, Deb Thill announced she will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Thill, who also serves as the head track coach for the Mitchell Kernels, just recently coached the Kernels back to the state volleyball tournament this past fall after a seven-year hiatus.

In a release, Mitchell activities director Cory Aadland thanked Thill for her commitment to the programs, the student-athletes and Kernel community.

"Deb Thill’s impact on Mitchell athletics is truly extraordinary. As the first and only head volleyball coach in
program history, she built a standard of excellence that continues to define our school," Aadland said in the release. "Beyond the success of her teams, Deb’s greatest legacy is the countless student-athletes she mentored, inspired, and prepared for life. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for education-based athletics will be felt in our community for generations.”

During her tenure, the Kernels amassed over 500 wins and recorded state championships in 1995 and 2003.

Thill also served as the head coach of the Kernel girls' basketball team in the early 2000s, including a state championship in 2003.

"This has been a difficult decision, as I have truly enjoyed teaching and coaching throughout my career. Over my 35 years in Mitchell, I believe my work helped strengthen the ever-changing coaching profession just as the experience strengthened me as an individual," Thill said in the release. "I am incredibly grateful to the Mitchell community, the Mitchell School District, and all of my former players and coaching staff for their support. Forever thankful—and once a Kernel, always a Kernel."

Aadland said the school will begin searching for a replacement immediately.