Coach Osborn honored for 700 career wins

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community boys basketball coach Mitch Osborn was recognized in a 20-minute ceremony prior to the Cyclones’ February 14 home game vs. Creston in honor of his 700th career win achieved two weeks earlier at Creston. Osborn, who delivered an emotional and thankful speech during the pregame ceremony, received the game ball from that January 31 victory, along with a commemorative plaque and other signed photographs marking the occasion. Mitch and Nancy Osborn have been married for 36 years. Their family includes: Joel and Audrey Osborn and sons Jack, Colin and Isaac; Kevin and Jahde Osborn (daughter Charlie and sons Carter and Maverck); and Zach and Lexi Osborn. Osborn is just the fourth member of Iowa’s exclusive 700-win club for boys basketball coaches, but he is easily the fastest of the four to reach 700, requiring only 869 games. His current career record stands at 704-170 for a winning percentage of .805. Osborn’s 18 state tournament appearances are tied for the most in state history. He’s coached three state title teams, five state runners-up and 20 conference championships since beginning his career at Elk Horn-Kimballton in 1984. His 31 state tournament victories ranks third in Iowa. Osborn coached six years at EH-K, followed by a successful seven-year run at Pomeroy-Palmer in which his teams went 149-29 and won the Class 1A state title in 1994. Since moving to Harlan Community in 1997, Osborn has set school records for seasons coached (23), wins (438), winning percentage (.800), conference titles (10) and state tournament appearances (10), along with coaching the only two state championship teams in program history (2004, 2006).