Mills Steps Down As Tiger Boys XC Coach
November 18, 2021 at 2:40 a.m.
Mills Steps Down As Tiger Boys XC Coach
By Staff Report-
He moved to Warsaw in 1997 and took over the boys cross country program in 1999.
Mills led the Tigers to Northern Lakes Conference championships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Warsaw has dominated the sectional, winning every year dating back to 2011. The Tigers have won the regional every year since 2012.
Five times they advanced to the state finals, including this October. Their best finish there was fourth 10 years ago.
He says he decided last spring that this season would be his last.
“I had enough people tell me I should have retired…gone out with that team last year,” Mills says. “There were enough guys on this team that I wanted to come back one more year and prove some people wrong, that we could make it (to the state finals) with this team.”
And they did just that.
He says the memories of 40 years of coaching will center on the great runners he’s worked with.
“Great athletes make great coaches,” Mills adds, “and I have been blessed with tremendous athletes.”
He also says the lead-up to that final meet was emotional.
“It’s been tough”, he says. “It’s been quite a run.”
A reception will be held for Coach Mills at 10 a.m. Nov. 27 in the T-RAC at Warsaw Community High School.
He moved to Warsaw in 1997 and took over the boys cross country program in 1999.
Mills led the Tigers to Northern Lakes Conference championships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Warsaw has dominated the sectional, winning every year dating back to 2011. The Tigers have won the regional every year since 2012.
Five times they advanced to the state finals, including this October. Their best finish there was fourth 10 years ago.
He says he decided last spring that this season would be his last.
“I had enough people tell me I should have retired…gone out with that team last year,” Mills says. “There were enough guys on this team that I wanted to come back one more year and prove some people wrong, that we could make it (to the state finals) with this team.”
And they did just that.
He says the memories of 40 years of coaching will center on the great runners he’s worked with.
“Great athletes make great coaches,” Mills adds, “and I have been blessed with tremendous athletes.”
He also says the lead-up to that final meet was emotional.
“It’s been tough”, he says. “It’s been quite a run.”
A reception will be held for Coach Mills at 10 a.m. Nov. 27 in the T-RAC at Warsaw Community High School.
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