Douglas Mills

Douglas Mills (1907-1993)

Teams coached: Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois record: 151-66 (.696)
Overall record: 151-66 (.696)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1942)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  0
• Big Ten Regular Season Champion:  3  (1937, 1942, 1943)
• Premo-Porretta National Championships:  1  (1943)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1936-1947

Illinois

Douglas Mills Facts

• Douglas R. Mills
• Born April 9, 1907
• Died August 12, 1993
• Hometown: Elgin, Illinois
• Alma Mater: University of Illinois (BA, 1930)
• Won back-to-back Illinois state championships (1924 and 1925) while playing at Elgin HS (IL)
  • In 2007, Mills was named one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament
• Went on to play for head coach Craig Ruby at Illinois; also played quarterback on the football team
• Started his coaching career with a five-year stint at Joliet Central HS (IL), from 1930-1935
  • Was 68-36 overall, reaching the state quarterfinals in his final year there
• Returned to Champaign, serving as head basketball coach (1936-47) and assistant football coach (1936-41)
  • Went 151-66 with the basketball program, winning three Big Ten titles and finishing .500 or better every season
  • His 1942-43 Illini team finished 17-1 (12-0) and was retroactively named Premo-Porretta National Champs
• Had taken on the role of athletic director in 1941 and in 1947, he stepped away from coaching to focus on his AD duties
  • Stayed in that position for a total of 25 years, retiring in 1966 after 30+ years at his alma mater
• Passed away in 1993 at the age of 85, still living in the Champaign-Urbana area

Douglas Mills Coaching Tree

• Vic Bubas (Duke)
• Harry Combes (Illinois)
• Jack Smiley (Waterloo Hawks)