Douglas Raymond "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. He led his Joliet team to the state tournament in 1935. He returned to the U of I as head men's basketball coach from 1936 to 1947.[2] He coached the famous "Whiz Kids" and also served as the Fighting Illini's athletic director. Mills died in 1993.
He and his wife, Lorene Muntz, had a daughter, Sally, who died from a ruptured appendix. The two later adopted two children, Peter G. Mills and the late Molly M. Mills.
Doug and Lorene divorced in the early 1960's. Neither ever remarried.
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion
^"Mills Accepts U. of I. Coach Job". Daily Journal-Gazette and Commercial-Star. Matoon, Illinois. April 4, 1936. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
December 15, 2023
douglas, mills, doug, mills, redirects, here, another, person, doug, mills, photographer, douglas, raymond, gaga, mills, april, 1907, august, 1993, native, elgin, illinois, high, school, college, basketball, player, coach, state, illinois, during, high, school. Doug Mills redirects here For another person see Doug Mills photographer Douglas Raymond 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 He led his Joliet team to the state tournament in 1935 He returned to the U of I as head men s basketball coach from 1936 to 1947 2 He coached the famous Whiz Kids and also served as the Fighting Illini s athletic director Mills died in 1993 Douglas R MillsBiographical detailsBorn 1907 04 09 April 9 1907Elgin Illinois U S Died 1993 08 12 August 12 1993 aged 86 Urbana Illinois U S Playing careerFootball1927 1929IllinoisBasketball1927 1930IllinoisPosition s Quarterback football Coaching career HC unless noted Football1936 1941Illinois assistant Basketball1931 1935Joliet Central HS1936 1947IllinoisAdministrative career AD unless noted 1941 1966IllinoisHead coaching recordOverall151 66 college 68 36 high school Accomplishments and honorsChampionships3 Big Ten 1937 1942 1943 Awards100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament 2007 While coaching at Illinois Mills compiled a record of 151 wins and 66 losses winning three conference titles during his tenure He added the athletic director s post in 1941 In 1947 he stepped down as head coach to concentrate on his duties as athletic director naming Champaign High coach Harry Combes as his successor He was also responsible for hiring football coaches Ray Eliot and Pete Elliott In 2007 the Illinois High School Association named Mills one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament He and his wife Lorene Muntz had a daughter Sally who died from a ruptured appendix The two later adopted two children Peter G Mills and the late Molly M Mills Doug and Lorene divorced in the early 1960 s Neither ever remarried Contents 1 Head coaching record 1 1 High school 1 2 College 2 ReferencesHead coaching record editHigh school edit School Season Record PostseasonJoliet Township HS 1930 31 12 10Joliet Township HS 1931 32 16 3Joliet Township HS 1932 33 10 9Joliet Township HS 1933 34 18 4 District ChampionsJoliet Township HS 1934 35 12 10 State QuarterfinalistCoaching totals 1930 35 68 36College edit Statistics overview Season Team Overall Conference Standing PostseasonIllinois Fighting Illini Big Ten Conference 1936 1947 1936 37 Illinois 14 4 10 2 T 1st1937 38 Illinois 9 9 4 8 T 8th1938 39 Illinois 14 5 8 4 3rd1939 40 Illinois 14 6 7 5 T 4th1940 41 Illinois 13 7 7 5 T 3rd1941 42 Illinois 18 5 13 2 1st1942 43 Illinois 17 1 12 0 1st1943 44 Illinois 11 9 5 7 6th1944 45 Illinois 13 7 7 5 3rd1945 46 Illinois 14 7 7 5 T 5th1946 47 Illinois 13 7 8 4 T 2ndIllinois 151 66 88 47Total 151 66 National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament championReferences edit Illinois Basketball History All Time Rosters www fightingillini com University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Archived from the original on 2010 03 22 Retrieved October 17 2022 Mills Accepts U of I Coach Job Daily Journal Gazette and Commercial Star Matoon Illinois April 4 1936 p 5 Retrieved September 23 2023 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Douglas R Mills amp oldid 1176719180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
