(Harlan) Harlan coach Mitch Osborn became just the 4th coach in Iowa history to reach 700 career wins. The Cyclones downed Creston 68-60 on Friday night to reach a new milestone for the 35 year veteran.
Osborn, a Walnut native, got his career started at Elk Horn-Kimballton, won a state championship at Pomeroy-Palmer, and has spent the past 22 seasons at Harlan.
His 18 state tournament appearances are tied for the most in state history and he’s won three state championships. Osborn’s state titles came with Pomeroy-Palmer in 1994 and with Harlan in 2004 and 2006. The 2004 team featured his son Joel and the 2006 team included his son Kevin-both were seniors who made the all-tournament team. Osborn has a 31-19 record in state tournament games and in addition to the three titles, he’s coached five runner-up teams.
In 2014 Osborn was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Hall of Fame.
State Tournament History
Elk Horn-Kimballton: 1990 (3rd)
Pomeroy-Palmer: 1991 (3rd), 1992 (3rd), 1993 (4th), 1994 (1st), 1995 (2nd), 1997
Harlan: 1998 (2nd), 2001 (4th), 2003 (2nd), 2004 (1st), 2006 (1st), 2007 (3rd), 2008 (2nd), 2009 (4th), 2013 (2nd), 2014 (4th)
