[4] In 1976 he moved to the New York Cosmos,[5] where he had an assist on a spectacular bicycle kick goal scored by his teammate Pelé in a game against the Miami Toros.

His 1981 team started with an 11–10 record, but in July 1981, Mitchell was replaced by his assistant Terry Hennessey.

Sports Illustrated reported that this was due to team management's dissatisfaction with the Roughnecks' low-scoring offense.

[8] Mitchell remained a popular figure in Tulsa, as a participant in local youth soccer programs,[9] and as a sports bar-restaurant operator.

[10] He coached the men's and women's soccer teams at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for nine years[11] until his resignation in June 2005.