Hawthorn head coach Sam Mitchell has reportedly been hospitalised after being diagnosed with pneumonia while away in America.
The 41-year-old spent Christmas in a New York hospital, where he will remain for the next several days, according to a report from 7NEWS journalist Mitch Cleary.
Hawks head coach Sam Mitchell hospitalised in America
"Sam is improving and recovering well," Hawthorn CEO Ashley Klein said.
"The club has been in regular contact with [Mitchell's wife] Lyndall, and we will obviously continue to provide support in any way we can."
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Mitchell took control of the Hawks two seasons ago following the end of the 17-year reign of four-time premiership winning mentor Alistair Clarkson.
In a tough opening spell to his AFL coaching career, Mitchell has had to rebuild the former powerhouse outfit with a whole host of young and inexperienced players.
The Hawks have won 15 games during Mitchell’s 45-game tenure to date at the club where he won four premierships as a player.
After retiring at the end of the 2017 campaign, Mitchell began his foray into first-grade coaching with an assistant role at former club West Coast Eagles.
Although this lasted for a single season before he returned to Hawthorn, where he worked in a range of different roles.
This included being an assistant to Clarkson and head of development for the club’s VFL-affiliated team Box Hill Hawks, before he was eventually promoted to be the Hawks’ senior head coach.
In 2023, Hawthorn finished near the foot of the ladder once again after managing just seven wins. However, the inventive and attacking style Mitchell has adopted has earned him plenty of plaudits during this challenging period.
Mitchell has been at the forefront of the club’s aggressive rebuild in the off-season, bringing in premiership winner Jack Ginnivan from Collingwood, as well as making moves for Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol and Massimo D’Ambrosio during the trade period.