In Loving Memory of
Coach Chuck Mills
December 1, 1928 – January 18, 2021
A Virtual Memorial Gathering was held on March 6, 2021 at 4:00 PM PST
Watch the Memorial Gathering
On January 18, 2021, we lost our gravelly-voiced, cigar-smoking, big-hearted football coach. Morton J. “Chuck” Mills was born on December 1, 1928 in Chicago. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1950 and began his coaching career as an assistant at Chicago’s Mount Carmel High School in 1951. After the 1952 season, he entered into military service with the US Marine Corp through 1953. Returning to Football in 1954, he had several head coaching stints at high schools in Illinois and California. He became the line coach at Pomona College in 1957 and was head coach there from 1957-1961. It was in 1961 that he received his first of many recognitions to come when he was selected as Conference Coach of the Year.
Coach Mills went on to serve as head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1962-1963), the United States Merchant Marine Academy (1964), Utah State University (1967-1972), Wake Forest University (1973-1977), Southern Oregon University (1980-1988), and the United States Coast Guard Academy (1997). He was an administrative assistant for Hank Stram’s Kansas City Chiefs in 1966 and often proudly sported his ring from the 1967 Super Bowl.
Always looking for ways to expand the horizons of his players and coaches and spread his team-building philosophy, Mills was instrumental in bringing American football to Japan. In 1971, he took his USU football team to Japan to compete against Japanese collegiate all-star teams, marking it the first time a U. S. college team had played in Japan. In 1974, he returned to Japan with his Wake Forest team. He also took his 1985 SOU team to Kobe, Japan. A year later, Kwansei Gakuin University became the first Japanese team to compete in the United States, when it played SOU in Ashland, Oregon. Four years later, Coach Mills continued with his commitment to the introduction of American football in Japan by taking his 1990 USCGA football team there to compete.
As the Japanese Times wrote on January 19, Mills is considered “one of the fathers of American football in Japan.” Since 1974, the award given to Japan’s top college football player of the year, the Japanese version of the Heisman Trophy, is called the “Mills Cup.” Most years, Coach Mills traveled to Japan to present the trophy himself.
“Fatherhood” is a key word when talking about Coach Mills. He capably served as a surrogate father to many of his players and to others in need of his help. He saw his players, coaches, staff and supporters as his extended family and he dedicated his life to keeping his football family members connected. He formed a community of past players, coaches, staff and supporters from all the schools where he coached, which he dubbed “Brothers & Kuzins.” His frequent emails to the Bothers & Kuzins were always signed “Luv Chuck.”
Mills was so much more than just a football coach. He was a life coach, as well. He cared for the people he came in contact with as human beings. He wanted his players to graduate, to succeed and to flourish in life. His goal was not just to stay connected to his players, but to provide them with platforms where they could form lasting friendships and remain connected to each other.
A Chuck Mills football practice was always efficient and well-organized; there was no wasted time. And, that’s how he lived his life—always on the move, always thinking of ways to keep his family of Brothers & Kuzins together.
Coach Mills spent much of his time staying connected to others during his retirement years in Hawaii. Hawaii is where he chose to settle, as it’s warm there year-round and he felt it was a good “middle base” for traveling between Japan and the mainland.
Upon his relocation to Hawaii in 2000, he immediately became a consultant to the Football program at the Marine Corps Base there. He continued to immerse himself in football, sharing his knowledge, insights, and wisdom through speaking engagements at high schools and colleges around the Islands. He was appointed to the Pro Bowl committee via the Hawaii Tourism Authority in 2012 as well as being selected to help with the NFL Hawaii Combine Camp. He was also involved with the development of a Pacific Rim Football League and consulted with the Hawaiian Arena Football League.
Although Coach kept very busy with football, he wasn’t too busy to start his day with morning coffee. It was there that he formed new friendships with a spirited and eclectic group he called “the coffee crew.” They would listen with bated breath as he regaled them with his football stories. His recall of details was uncanny. He would talk about a play that happened in the 3rd quarter of a game (from 1972), with only 2.5 minutes to go, etc, etc – and he would often follow up with more details about players in the game and what they were doing today, their profession, how many kids and grandkids they had, etc. He had full knowledge and loving memories of hundreds of his “kids.” As he told his stories, tears would often come to his eyes.
The coffee crew quickly grew to love him deeply. During the last 20 years, barely a morning coffee was missed. They honored and respected him, watched out for him as age began to slow him down and always listened to his stories, no matter how many times they had been told. Coach remained a force to be reckoned with until the final end. Oh, but how, he made everyone smile and laugh.
Coach Mills will be missed immensely, but the impact of his legacy will live on through the hundreds of friendships he forged and through the “Luv” he shared and fostered.
HONORING COACH CHUCK MILLS
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT & SCHOLARSHIPS
Donations to honor Coach Chuck Mills can be made directly to your college, academy or university. Here are direct links to some of them:
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USCGA Bear Club Football Fund – Feel free to leave an honorary gift in Chuck’s name. Learn more about how the football fund supports the team by clicking here.
- IUP Endowment
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God Bless, Coach. Thank you for the opportunity, and for bringing us together as a TEAM.
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God Bless and Prayers
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Coach, you not impacted my life, you also touched the hearts of my wife and daughters. Laughter and tears fill the stories to be retold for years to come. Thank you for blessing my life, and those of my SOSC Brothers and Kousins. Give Barb a team hug, Godspeed!
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Thank you, Phil, for arranging and hosting such a heartfelt and compassionate tribute to Coach. The repetitive message each team’s memoirist shared was a testament to Coach’s consistent connection with each of us from his earliest years as a coach until his passing.
Kenneth (Ken) Smith Pomona College ’62
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To a long time friend an wonderful GREAT FOOTBALL COACH , who did as much for the game of football in his personal efforts thru out his life , as Amos Alonzo Stagg. I miss you and love you. RIP. coach jack lengyel
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Coach Mills had a great impact on my life. He awarded me in 1963 the most promising player award, although he left after that season from IUP. The lessons he taught me both on the field and off have influenced me for over 50 years. On Coach’s 90th birthday I sent him a book I wrote about the history of our local high school football team. He called me one evening as I was watching TV and on the screen came this call from Hawaii. I almost didn’t answer, thinking it was a crank call. I am glad I did, it was Coach thanking me. After talking for about 15 minutes we hung up. A few minutes passed and the phone rang again, it was Coach, he told me to be sure to tell my wife how instrumental she was to get me to write the book.. I will never forget his impact on my life. Carl “Reptile” Mayer
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Semper Fidelis Coach, It was an honor and a pleasure knowing you. You will be missed.
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Coach Mills:
Innovator
Educator
Inspirator
Mediator
You were ALL that; and MUCH, MUCH more !!!
Thank you. May you Rest In Peace !!
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I played for Coach only one year at Pomona in 1958 and lacked the ability to contribute much. He was assistant coach then and we played single-wing. I remember before one game he had a bunch of us 5th stringers line up and run a few plays using a T formation. I think it was more as a joke than a serious attempt to cause the other coach any distress. As a coach, he always struck me as having a very good mind. As a person during that one season and the subsequent 62 years, he always impressed me as a high quality man with about as much character as you can pack into a single man.. Although I only played one year (I was kicked off the team for being drunk in the dining hall at the end of the school year, and ended up taking a year off school.), he remembered me and kept in touch. He even referred some people to contact me when they visited NZ (where I’ve lived for 34 years). He was a remarkable man and I’m a better person for having known him.
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Coaches play an enormously important role in the development of young people and we Brothers and Kuzzins were blessed to have someone of the caliber of Coach Mills to help build our strength and character. Coach’s unrelenting emphasis on team play, hard work, going all in and fair play, in the context of a game we all love and with people who became lifelong friends are things all of us carried forward from our time with Coach Mills. Thanks Coach. We love ya back. And thanks Phil for organizing this final chapter in the era of the Brothers and Kuzzins/
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Remember him well. And with gratitude
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I pulled this interview I did with Chuck on Leadership in 2017 if anyone would like to hear it. http://tobtr.com/9742403
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I will always be in debt to Coach Mills. He fully understood that most college football players would not graduate to pro football. I remember when I first arrived at Utah State University he started that we were there for an education and that football came second.
I met my wife, Gayle, at USU while in grad school after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. I will be forever indebted to Coach Mills for bringing me to USU as we have been married now for 45 years. Gayle and I visited Coach Mills in Hawaii in 2014.! It was wonderful.
So all I have to say is that Coach Mills is one of the most important people in my life.. I will remember him with love forever. Semper Fidelis Coach!
Dan Erickson
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I will always be in debt to Coach Mills. He fully understood that most college football players would not graduate to pro football. I remember when I first arrived at Utah State University he stated that we were there for an education and that football came second.
I met my wife, Gayle, at USU while in grad school after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. I will be forever indebted to Coach Mills for bringing me to USU as we have been married now for 45 years. Gayle and I visited Coach Mills in Hawaii in 2014.! It was wonderful.
So all I have to say is that Coach Mills is one of the most important people in my life.. I will remember him with love forever. Semper Fidelis Coach!
Dan Erickson
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Thanks Coach for everything you did. Being coached by you was an important part of my life. The decision to become a Raider was one of the best decisions of my life.
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From Susen Mesco, on behalf of my Grandparents Martha & Thaddeus, who took Coach Mills into their home when he was in grade school. On behalf of my Father Victor and Uncle Ed Mieszkowski (player at Notre Dame / Coach at Marquette Univ, WI), who were sports buddies with Chuck. They all met up in heaven for a hug, high-five, and a game. Let’s remember him in our prayers and how he touched all lives… even mine and I never even met him! God Bless ALL the Kuzins. Amen
A Game Guy’s Prayer….
Dear God,
Help me to be a sport in this little game of life.
1 don’t ask for any place in the lineup.
Play me where You need me.
I only ask for the stuff to give You 100% of all I’ve got.
If all the hard drives come my way, I thank You for the compliment.
Help me to remember that You won’t let anything come that You and I, together can’t handle.
Help me take the bad breaks as part of the game. Help me be thankful for them.
And God, help me always to play on the square, no matter what the other players do. Help me to see that often the
best part of the game is helping the other guys.
Help me be a “regular fellow” with the other players.
Finally God, if fate seems to uppercut me with both hands and I’m laid up in sickness or old age help me to take that as part of the game.
Help me not whimper or squeal that the game was a frame-up or that I got a raw deal.
When I get the final bell, I ask for no lying, complin1entary stones.
I’d only like to know that YOU feel I have been a “good guy.”
(-Chaplain’s Digest)
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God Bless you Chuck!11 Meeting you in 2000 and knowing you all these years has been special. Your Leadership talks and so much more will live on forever…in so many lives…Ironic how full circle you went from the Kansas City Chiefs in 1966 to watching them from Heaven in the Super bowl this year. ( I have no doubt) You made all of us feel special. And although you hated the phone (for long talks, only quick chats) I cherish the coffee shop get togethers and staying in touch when off island. So glad to reach you after the holidays. So many great memories. Can see you now with Barbara choosing another pup, smoking your cigar….gathering up players for the next round… Luv you Chuck. 🙂
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As a player he taught me how to persevere and humbly understand success. As a Mentor he taught me the importance of working with the flow. In the worst of times and the best, Coach was always able to ask the right questions and leave me to figure out the answers. Best of life to all Brothers & Cousins.
Luv Walt
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Memorable Phil and presenters for bringing Chuck Mills to us in such a strong and sensitive manner!…He was a good man, cared for me as he did everyone! He helped mold boys into men and for this I am greatful! Very well done group!…Thank You!
Love You Chuck!
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Coach Mills was one of a kind. I played for him on the 1997 team at the CGA. We had a year that movies are made of but it was Coach’s wit, smile, and love for his players that I remember most. I miss him.
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God Bless. Rest in peace
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Coach Mills will be missed by all the Brothers and Cousins around the country. He has meant so much to so many. Thank you Coach for being there for all of us.
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There are hundreds of “Coach Mills” stories that will live with us forever. Whether you were a player, a coach or just knew him, he made your life a whole lot better and definitely more entertaining. He was God’s Blessing to all of us.
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Great memories of Coach Mills from the time he arrived at IUP in 1962 to begin developing an outstanding football program for all the athletes, other students and the entire community to the present time. He has managed to keep players close and vivid memories alive throughout all those years.
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We miss you, Chuck.
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Thanks, Coach. My children’s children will hear stories about you.
Southern Oregon
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You are where you should be next to the Lord.
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What a great soul, we can’t think of him without smiling!
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As many of us have noted, there are but a few people during our lifetimes that we remember forever. The experiences and the messages live on in each of us and I expect that you, as I, continue to think of our relationships with Coach Mills with fondness. They always bring a smile. Not only was he a great coach but as he shared with me and others so long ago that his goal was to “make a difference”. Well coach, you did. You played the game well, taught us all plenty and we all hope to affect others as you have with us. I often find myself using those stories as examples of a life well lived.
Thanks Coach. God be with you.
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Perhaps we are in the minority but my wife and I didn’t know Chuck through anything to do with football, but through our common love of dogs. He had recently moved to Hawaii and had his much loved canine partner in quarantine. Our dog was on his way to Fiji from China and Hawaii was a quarantine stop on the way. Ruth, my then fiancé, befriended Chuck or Chuck befriended Ruth. Ultimately it doesn’t matter but what does matter is that he became a great friend and was quick to accept an invitation to Australia to attend our wedding in July 2000. We remained great friends. He never forgot to send birthday and wedding anniversary best wishes. We were fortunate to see him on a number of occasions over the years and we cherish those times. Chuck had so many great qualities. He was the real deal as they say. He is sadly missed by both of us, but what a life he lead and what a legacy he has left behind.
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You will always be in my thoughts and were an influence in my life. You were great for a good story.
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One outstanding memory I have of Coach Mills was having a football clinic @ Indiana,Pa. where Coach Hank Stram spoke and QB Lenny Dawson worked out with backs & receivers in a Spring practice. Coach Mills always found ways to motivate players in a very POSITIVE WAY! His interest & dedication to his players & the game of football was so evident in his everyday lifestyle. Bill Leonard Indiana State College ‘62 & ‘63
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A good man, a fine coach, and he had a great sense of humor:
i.e. having us little guys at Pomona College scrimmage the football team at the Chino Men’s Prison in
Chino, CA. Yes, we were a bit scared. We had no idea what to expect. Coach seemed to have that certain smile that said “this ought to be fun.” Well first, all the inmates in the stands were rooting for us and having a great time. My opposing tackle, one giant dude, had a system: “This time I lay on you, next time you lay on me. That way we don’t get too tired”. Hmmm, not a bad deal. We took it to them anyway. They were fun guys, and football does that to you. Camaraderie, self confidence, team play, lifelong friends. And as he shaped us for later life, he kept us laughing. We won some games and had a winning season in ’59, beating Occidental College 7-0. Thanks Coach for all you taught us.
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As a freshman at Pomona College, I decided to join the football program with no prior experience in high school. Coach Mills always encouraged me even though my skill level was lagging behind my teammates. Finally as a senior I became a starter as outside line backer. Chuck and the other coaching staff were always supportive of my endeavors. When I sent a note to Chuck on his 90th including my self-evaluation of my football abilities, he wrote back: “I was the coach, as I recall, you were a much better player than you recall!!!”
Thanks Coach for all your years of mentoring your players. Now you can take a rest.
Gerry Wick, Pomona College class of 1962
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Friends:
To have had the privilege of being associated with Coach Mill while being a member of his Wake Forest staff is an honor I will continue to cherish. He was a special and unique man who cared greatly about his players compared to most.. May his memory be revered by all who knew him. Blessings to all.
Eddie Wilson
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While Coach Mills was the Athletic Director at the US Coast Guard Academy I served as the Assistant Superintendent and saw him just about every day. My wife and I also lived next to Barbara and Chuck. I always enjoyed his gift of gab and his sense of humor. But, I was most impressed by his ability to speak in public. One day I asked him what his secret to public speaking was. He smiled and showed me what looked like a menu from a Chinese restaurant. He had a variety of topics organized in such a way that he could pick stories and points that he wanted to make, depending on the audience and the theme. Chuck could put an hour speech together in 5 minutes and go deliver it like he has been working on it for days. Always organized and always prepared. He was a great neighbor, great coach and great mentor.
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Coach Mills was before his time, was a true giant among football coaches in this nation, was a friend, was a conduit in bring diverse groups together that created lifetime friends, he would put his name and reputation to be supportive of the men who played football for him to matter the college, and he was our hero.
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I wanted to join with my Brothers and Kuzins, friends & family to share a few thoughts about the legacy of Coach Mills’ life. While his win/loss record as a coach is remarkable, I think his greatest accomplishment was the positive impact he’s had on the lives of so many. When we use the term “Coach” to describe him, it’s intended to convey a sincere message of admiration, honor, respect and appreciation.
I’ve heard it said that the true measure of a person is not seen in what they’ve done for themselves, but is more accurately reflected in what they’ve done for others. While Coach Mills was a bit rough around the edges and had a tendency to ruffle feathers with some of the tough decisions he made at times, he earned a well-deserved reputation for being objective and for sincerely caring about all who crossed his path.
I consider it both an honor and a blessing to have had the opportunity to play on three of Coach Mills’ football teams at Utah State. Highlights were being only 7 points from an undefeated season in 1967, winning 7 of 10 games games in 1968 and beating in-state opponents Utah & BYU as well as San Diego State, Wisconsin, Memphis State, West Texas State and Army.
I’m thankful for the investment Coach Mills made in me both as a player and as a person. Wherever I’ve gone and in whatever I’ve done, I’ve tried to make him proud. I always knew that he was out there watching and that he was cheering for me.
Phil Olsen
USU 1967-70
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A friendship never to be erased. Brought together via football and sports media, our respectful association spanned 52 years. I’m grateful to have known Coach Chuck Mills.
Ken Mitchell
Sports Information Director
Utah State University
1969
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What I remember most about Chuck Mills at Pomona College was when he preached to us that he wanted us to play “Pop Up” football. “When you get knocked down, I want you to Pop Up”.
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Coach Mills, lived on and off when he was very young, with my Grandparents. My Uncle & Godfather, Ed Mieszkowski and Chuck were great buddies. After my graduated from Notre Dame, where he played football. he got a job coaching football at Mt Carmel. My Uncle engaged Coach Mills to be a coach. After my Uncle passed Chuck always kept in touch with my Father. My Father would share the wonderful emails with me. Although we never met, Coach Mills kept in contact with me after my Father passed in 2014. I am SO inspired by his life and leadership. What a great guy! So blessed to think the boys, Chuck, Ed and my Dad are back together. I’m sure it was as warm welcome with my Grandparents in heaven. How honored I am to be included thanks to Coach Mills extraorfinary communications over the years. Prayers to all for the joy of connection through Coach!!
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He was good for me when I was a young man.. I really learned about life while under his tutelage
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We met Coach a few years ago. I offered to walk Kit, his black lab-pit doggie. I visited Coach in the mornings when I would come get Kit but somehow, I ended up fascinated with Coach’s amazing stories. Eventually, I adopted Kit, since she stole my heart as well. I know he felt Kit could have a good home with me and my family, but I know he struggled with the decision, as he loved her very much. We are all so sad to hear of his passing. I only wish we could have had a few more visits with him. Kit and is a huge part of our family and we owe that to Coach. For loving her that much to let her be with us. He will always have a special place in our hearts and we know Kit considers him part of the pack.
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As the saying goes Chuck and I go back a long way. I was very lucky to be friends with Chuck. We met in high school (we were both at Leo at the time) and have always stayed in touch. We both loved football and that kind of united us. Even though I am a football nut as my family will attest, Chuck liked football even more. Before there was such a thing as the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl signaled the end of the season. After that game no one was interested in football until the following August when the College All-Stars would play the Champion Pros at Soldier Field in Chicago. Between the span of those two games football was not talked about or written about. But that did not apply to Chuck. I remember in February when it was bitter cold in Chicago, Chuck would call me and invite me to go for coffee to one of our diners. Guess what he would bring up? Yes, he wanted to talk football: diagramming plays, giving me problems as to how I would solve them and anything else related to the game. Of course, I enjoyed it too, but I did not discuss football again until he and I got together for another meeting. At that early age Chuck already was football wise. I was fortunate to have a friend like Chuck, He was an outstanding coach but more so an outstanding individual. I was lucky to be part of his family.
Barney Janecki
Chicago, IL
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Most people don’t realize just how influential and powerful Coach Mills really was. In the fall of 1962 at Indiana State College, we thought we had experienced this first hand. It was on a Thursday, early evening, shortly after football practice ended. The team was packing their football gear for the Friday bus trip to a far away Saturday afternoon game, Our printed itinerary indicated that we would be eating numerous meals at restaurants, of course,, including several on Friday. Coach Mills entered the locker room where the team was all there and announced,, “By the way, all of you Catholic players may eat meat tomorrow, on Friday.” Hearing this, I respectfully shouted back, “Thanks a lot, Coach! We appreciate that!” After a moment of team silence, Coach Mills looked at me with his trademark smirky smile and sad, “Vaccaro! That was the Pope that gave this dispensation for this particular Friday, NOT me!” Ever the modest Coach Mills, he refused to take credit for this,. We sure loved this man, didn’t we? Al Vaccaro
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For five years I witnessed Coach Mills help change the direction of countless student/athletes at SOU. I count myself as a successful product of Coach Mills humanistic approach to coaching. After 30 years as a high school coach/ teacher, I tried my best to teach as Coach Mills taught me. I wanted him to be proud of me. Love you Coach!
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I had the honor of being on Coach Mills 1963 ISC/IUP football team. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to play for Coach Mills albeit it was only one (1) year it was an experience never to be forgotten and the start of a lifetime friendship. Coach Mills worked very hard to stay in touch with all of his former players. He started the “Brothers & Cuzins” reunion where the players from ISC/IUP were my “Brothers” and the players from the other schools he coached were my “cuzins” but we considered all of us as “Brothers” due to the link with Coach Mills. Coach Mills never hesitated to help any of his players when we had a life changing situation. The numerous contacts within the “Brothers & Cuzins” group normally had someone with the expertise to help with the situation. If it was not available in the “Brothers & Cuzins” group Coach Mills found the needed help somewhere else.
The “Brothers & Cuzins” reunions in Las Vegas were always an event we looked forward and being able to see Coach Mills and all of our “Brothers”. To my knowledge this is one of the largest groups for this type of reunion. For Coach Mills 90th birthday, on 04 Dec 2018, over 125 people traveled from throughout the US to attend this event in Las Vegas.
When Coach Mills was inducted into the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame (HOF) in 2009 over 60% of the players who played for him at ISC/IUP were in attendance. This is one indication of the love and respect we all had for this outstanding individual.
All of the “Brothers & Cuzins” have great memories of Coach Mills. Coach Mills was a great friend to me and all of his other players for over fifty (50) years and he will always have a special place in our hearts.
Barry “Buck” Lippencott, ISC/IUP Football 63 – 66
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Funny story-one of many humorous situations that Chuck found himself in throughout his coaching career! In 1976, our Wake Forest team finished with a 5-6 record with one of those losses being to the Univ. of Michigan and 3 of the other 5 losses being by a total of 6 points. As a result, at the end of the season the Detroit Free Press contacted Chuck to congratulate Wake Forest on being the Number 1 team in the country according to their statistics! Chuck gladly accepted their recognition and thought no more of it until he got a call from the NCAA Compliance people wanting to know what his connection was with the Detroit Free Press. Unbeknownst to Chuck, the Detroit Free Press was the go to source for book makers throughout the country, and they had benefited quite well financially by taking Wake Forest in the spreads throughout the 1976 season! I told the players this story at the last gathering we had for Chuck at Wake Forest when we played Utah State, and told them while they were out there getting their brains rattled with those old Riddell “suspension” helmets and getting their $25 per month in “laundry money” from the athletic department, their were a lot of bookies throughout the country who greatly appreciated their efforts on the football field and benefited quite well financially from them keeping their scores within the spreads! Not sure if Chuck ever received a plaque or trophy for this accomplishment, but if he did I don’t think he ever asked the AD if he wanted to display it in the Wake Forest Trophy Case!
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Coach I hope that your new journey is speedy and that your eternity is comfortable. I appreciate what you did for your former players and am certainly blessed to have been one of them.
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Thank you Coach for letting me transfer to SOSC. Enjoyed learning life long lessons and playing with a great bunch of guys. He will be missed but never forgotten!
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Chuck Mills was far more than just a football coach and Vince Lombardi described him perfectly when he said, ” Coaches who can outline a play on a blackboard are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate them.” Coach Mills really loved his players and was intent on keeping in touch with them long after their playing days ended. One of his former players was talking about Coach Mills when he told me, ” It’s not all about who you coach or even where you coach. It’s about WHY you coach.” Coach Mills most certainly knew why he coached. Dale Brown-LSU head basketball coach-1972-1997.
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Thanks to Coach Mills inviting me onto the Wake Forest football team as a preferred walk on, I had experiences and made friends that have lasted a lifetime.
Dr George Bakalis
Chiropractic Physician
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One of the three tenets of the term near and dear to the hearts of U.S. Marines, SEMPER FIDELIS(Semper Fi), is the steadfast loyalty to fellow Marines who one has “fought” alongside. While certainly not inferring that playing a football game is comparable to war, the closeness, respect and maybe even love that comes from a common purpose in a highly intense concerted effort surely exists. Coach Mills, in his efforts to help his players perform to their best not just in football, but, eventually facing life’s trials exemplified this tenet in his steadfast loyalty and love for those who played for him. He exhibited unabashed, personal family style love for his players AND received the same.
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I thank God that I got to meet you. You are an amazing man