Douglas R. Mills

Douglas R. Mills
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born (1907-04-09)April 9, 1907
Elgin, Illinois
Died August 12, 1993(1993-08-12) (aged 85)
Urbana, Illinois
Playing career
1927–1930 Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1931–1935 Joliet Central HS (IL)
1936–1947 Illinois
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1941–1966 Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall 151–66 (college)
68–36 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Big Ten (1937, 1942, 1943)
Awards
100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament (2007)

Douglas R. "Gaga" Mills (April 9, 1907 – August 12, 1993), a native of Elgin, Illinois, was a high school and college basketball player and coach in the state of Illinois. During high school, Mills was the first player in the state to lead his team to back-to-back titles in 1924 and 1925. He totaled 32 points in four state tournament games for Elgin High School during an era of low-scoring play. Mills played for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team from 1927 to 1930[1] followed by a five year coaching stint at Joliet Township High School. It was at Joliet where he led his team to the state tournament in 1935. He returned to the U of I as head men's basketball coach between 1936 and 1947. It was during this time where he coached the famous "Whiz Kids" and later served as the Fighting Illini's athletic director. Mills died in 1993.

While coaching at Illinois, Mills compiled a record of 151 wins and 66 losses, winning three conference titles during his tenure. Mills served as Athletic Director for the University of Illinois from 1941 to 1966, responsible for football coaches Ray Eliot and Pete Elliott and basketball coach Harry Combes. In 2007, the Illinois High School Association named Mills one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.[2]

Head coaching record

High school

School Season Record Postseason
Joliet Township HS 1930-31 12-10
Joliet Township HS 1931-32 16-3
Joliet Township HS 1932-33 10-9
Joliet Township HS 1933-34 18-4 District Champions
Joliet Township HS 1934-35 12-10 State Quarterfinalist
Coaching totals 1930-3568-36

College

Season Team Season Record Conf. Record Place
1936-37Illinois14-410-2T-1st
1937-38Illinois9-94-8T-8th
1938-39Illinois14-58-43rd
1939-40Illinois14-67-5T-4th
1940-41Illinois13-77-5T-3rd
1941-42Illinois18-513-21st
1942-43Illinois17-112-01st
1943-44Illinois11-95-76th
1944-45Illinois13-77-53rd
1945-46Illinois14-77-5T-5th
1946-47Illinois14-68-4T-2nd
Total Illinois151-6688-47

References

External links

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