DJ Mims will no longer be the head football coach at MIHS for the 2025-26 season. Mims announced his departure during a meeting last Monday with the MIHS Football team.

While at MIHS, Mims led the Islanders to the playoffs during two out of his three seasons, while holding an overall record of 16-15, with one playoff win. During his tenure he was named the 2023 Week 7 Seattle Seahawks 3A/4A High School Coach of the Week, and was named the KingCo Mountain Coach of the year in 2024.

“When I took over, I didn’t plan on leaving Mercer Island, not at any points,” Mims said. “We struggled in year one, and we were able to have a lot of success the next two years.”

Although the Islanders went 0-10 during Mims’ first season with the team in 2022, he turned the ship around the next year and came back to lead the Islanders to a 6-4 record, with our first playoff appearance in 7 years. This past season, he was the most successful, leading the Islanders to a 10-0 record and giving us our first playoff win in 8 years.

Mims’ second job at the school, as attendance liaison, is being terminated by the school district at the end of the year. However, Mims’ decision to move was also based on an offer he received to become the new Puyallup Vikings heach coach, replacing former head coach Brain Grout.

“I was the coach here the last three years and there were a bunch of big jobs that opened up, and I chose to remain here. This one kind of just aligned with timing, and then it being so close to home,” Mims said.

Offensive coordinator Chris Chambers is also joining Mims in his move from MIHS to Puyallup Football. We Islanders wish Mims and Chambers nothing but the best as they take on their new roles down in Puyallup. Go Islanders!