Drayage Brokersin Wichita, KS

After a successful run at Oral Roberts, Paul Mills was announced as the new head coach of the Wichita State men’s basketball team on Wednesday morning.

Mills has been the head coach at Oral Roberts for six seasons, compiling a 106-84 record. He most notably led the Golden Eagles to the Sweet 16 in 2021, just the second time in the history of the NCAA Tournament a No. 15 seed had advanced that far. Oral Roberts also had an undefeated record against Summit League competition this past season and earned another trip to March Madness.

While the conclusion of the 11-day national search brought mixed reactions from WSU fans on Tuesday evening, the general consensus among national media members is that Wichita State made a good hire in Mills.

“Mills has proven he can raise a program to a higher ceiling when he has the talent and he’s proven he can get talent,” said Matt Cox, who writes about college basketball for Three Man Weave. “Shattering program standards at a program like Oral Roberts is a great foreshadow to what he can do in Wichita with more talent.

“Let’s just say it was a great time to be looking for a new head coach and Mills is on the higher end of the tier of talent that seems capable of winning at that level. I think you’ve got to be happy about it if you’re Wichita State.”

Hiring former Baylor assistants under Scott Drew has worked out for several programs lately. Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Grant McCasland (North Texas), Mills (Oral Roberts) and Matthew Driscoll (North Florida) have all had success on their own as head coaches after leaving Drew’s staff.

Texas native Brian Burton, a former Division I assistant coach who now works as an ESPN college basketball analyst, has spent time with Drew and all of his former assistants on the recruiting trail. He doesn’t believe it’s a coincidence that Mills and his former colleagues have all been successful.

“I think it goes back to coach Drew and his ability to delegate and allow people to have ownership in the program,” Burton said. “It’s not a place you go where your job is just to recruit and then get out of the way. He empowers his assistants and lets them have a voice and a say-so. He hires guys to coach and lets them coach and really prepares them for sitting in that seat.”

A common gripe among WSU fans has been the overall winning percentage (55.8%) of Mills as a head coach at Oral Roberts. But the conversation is missing context.

When Mills took over the program, Oral Roberts was coming off back-to-back losing seasons in the Summit League and an 8-22 campaign. He has steadily built Oral Roberts into a league power, ripping off the Cinderella run in 2021 and then finishing 18-0 — the only team in America with a perfect conference record this season — in Summit League play and winning the conference tournament.

“Oral Roberts is a very challenging job and even though it’s a program that does have a history of winning, it’s not necessarily an easy place to win at,” Burton said. “They have certain rules and restrictions and that limits the type of kids you can recruit. So I think it says a lot about Paul for him to be able to win and sustain winning at a place like that.

“ORU is not a place where they are set up to be at the top of their league because of the job setup. You’ve got to be able to roll up your sleeves and really lay a foundation and that’s what Paul did. They kind of did the same thing at Baylor, so he’s used to recruiting and winning at places that don’t have that kind of tradition. And now he’s going to a place that does have tradition and is much more of a basketball job in Wichita.”

What Oral Roberts lacked in NIL money, Mills made up for in relationships. Burton said Mills is a tremendous relationship-builder, which is why he believes star scoring guard Max Abmas has stuck with Mills for four straight years at Oral Roberts.

Abmas became a star in 2021 when he led Division I in scoring at 24.5 points and sparked Oral Roberts’ Cinderella run to the Sweet 16. Despite receiving national attention and options to transfer up, Abmas has spurned the transfer portal.

“One of the most incredible recruiting jobs in the country has been coach Mills keeping Max Abmas — keeping him for not just one offseason but two offseasons in a time period where players are getting crazy amounts of NIL money,” Burton said. “That says a lot about the young man, but it also says a lot about coach Mills and his ability to connect. He really invests in his players and is very genuine.

“That’s why there are (prep) coaches who want their kids to go to ORU. They’ll have kids who could probably go higher, but people want to help Paul Mills. People want to see their kids go there because they know he is going to coach them up and there’s going to be that standard of excellence.”

Mills also comes to Wichita with a reputation as a tactician on the offensive end. His offenses at Oral Roberts have ranked top-75 nationally in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency the last four seasons and have been up-tempo, high-scoring and featured a lot of 3-pointers.

If Mills can replicate that kind of offensive firepower in Wichita, it would be a welcome change to a program that has consistently been one of the worst shooting teams in college basketball for much of the last five seasons.

“Mills is going to bring some innovative offensive concepts and I think that kind of scoring is going to be very refreshing to the fans in Wichita,” Cox said.

“I really do believe he is going to restore that program (WSU) to their winning ways and that championship pedigree,” Burton said. “That’s ultimately what Wichita State fans want. They want to go back to NCAA tournaments and compete at a high level and make tournament runs. I think Paul is the guy to do it.”

This story was originally published March 22, 2023, 8:43 AM.

Wichita State will introduce Paul Mills as its 27^th head men's basketball coach at 3:30 p.m. Thursday inside Charles Koch Arena. This event is free and open to the public with streaming available live and on-demand via ESPN+.

"My family and I are extremely excited about being a part of Wichita State University," Mills said. "The rich history, winning tradition and unbelievable community support will keep us working on behalf of the GREATEST fans in all of college basketball. We can't wait!"

Mills has spent the past six years rebuilding the program at Oral Roberts (2017-23), earning bids to two of the last three NCAA tournaments.

In 2021 Mills became just the second coach in history to guide a No. 15 seed to the Sweet 16, upsetting Ohio State and Florida in the first two rounds.

This past season he coached ORU to a 30-5 record, an undefeated run through the Summit League (18-0) and a No. 12 seed in the Big Dance.

Mills is currently a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award as well as the NABC's Skip Prosser Man of the Year honor, presented annually to a coach who achieves success on the basketball court and displays moral integrity off of it.

"Paul Mills' heart for people, passion for life and approach to the development of young people and programs is energizing," WSU Director of Athletics Kevin Saal said. "He aligns with Shocker Athletics' core values, facilitates a first-class student-athlete experience and fuels broad-based competitive excellence. We are thrilled to welcome the Mills family – Paul, Wendy, Audrey and Abbey – to Wichita, Wichita State University and Shocker Nation!"

"We are looking forward to the next chapter of WSU basketball under Paul Mills' leadership," WSU President Dr. Richard Muma said. "He's fully aligned with our priorities, which includes creating success for our student athletes and a winning culture for all of Shocker Nation."

Mills' teams play an exciting brand of basketball, annually ranking among the NCAA leaders in scoring and three-point field goals while playing tough, gritty defense.

Over the years Mills has also demonstrated a knack for finding and developing talent. His greatest success story is 6-foot guard Max Abmas, an overlooked recruit, turned NBA prospect who scored more than 2,500 career points in Mills' system and was twice named Summit League Player of the Year.

Prior to ORU, Mills spent 14 seasons on staff at Baylor under head coach Scott Drew, the last eight as assistant coach during which he helped the Bears to six NCAA tournaments, tallying four Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight appearances, as well as the 2013 NIT title.

Mills, age 50, graduated from Texas A&M in 1996 with a degree in finance and completed a Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in the summer of 2020.

What other are saying about Paul Mills:

"Paul Mills helped build Baylor Basketball then took Oral Roberts to levels never before achieved. He is an outstanding coach and, above all, a man of high integrity and character. He LOVES building relationships and mentoring his players, helping them become winners on and off the court. Wichita State hit a homerun with Coach Mills." --Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

"WSU hit a grand slam with Paul Mills as its new head men's basketball coach. Paul is a terrific husband and father, a caring son, and a dynamic leader. The young men that will be blessed to be mentored and molded by his enthusiasm for faith and family will be changed for life and will be exponentially better because of the time spent with Paul and his family. Shocker Nation will have a lot to celebrate, on and off the court!!!" --Jerome Tang, Kansas State Head Coach

"Congratulations to Kevin Saal and Wichita State on hiring one of the rising stars in college basketball in Paul Mills. Paul is an outstanding leader, will run an exemplary program and develop his student-athletes on and off the court." -- Ian McCaw, Former Baylor, Current Liberty Athletic Director

"Paul is highly regarded in the coaching profession and has all the qualities needed to restore the iconic Wichita State basketball program to its former heights and to take it to even greater renown. We are pleased to welcome Paul to our conference and to add his name to a strong roster of conference coaches. Congratulations, also, to Athletic Director Kevin Saal on this outstanding hire. There is renewed excitement in the Shockers' men's basketball program." -- Mike Aresco, American Athletic Conference Commissioner.

"The hiring of Paul Mills is a great step forward for Wichita State basketball. It has been my privilege to spend many hours talking basketball with Paul and watching his teams play. He is a coach that not only understands the X's and O's of the game, but the importance of his role in shaping the lives of his student-athletes. His teams will be well coached and also represent Wichita State University in a first-class way. I am excited to watch the progress of the Shockers over the next several years." Rick Byrd, Former Belmont Head Coach

"Paul Mills is one of the next stars in our profession! Wichita State just got a triple double! He is incredibly adept in his offensive schemes. He is an elite evaluator and recruiter. However, his greatest attribute is the kind of person he is; honest, relational, relatable, and authentic! Shocker Nation got a great one!" --Ritchie McKay, Liberty Head Coach

"Paul Mills is one of the most incredible basketball minds I have ever had the pleasure of being around. His IQ and character set apart from the rest. Wichita State got everything and more with this hire." --Jay Williams, Former Duke guard and current ESPN college basketball analyst

THE MILLS FILE:

Full Name: Paul Kerry Mills

Birthdate: April 4, 1972 in Houston (Age 50)

Education: Undergrad: Texas A&M '96 Masters: Dallas Theological Seminary '20

Family: Wife: Wendy Daughters: Audrey & Abbey

Coaching Experience: 2023-Pr. – Wichita State – Head Coach 2017-23 – Oral Roberts – Head Coach 2009-17 – Baylor – Assistant Coach 2003-09 – Baylor – Coordinator of Operations 2002-03 – Rice – Operations 1998-02 – Fort Bend Baptist Academy, Head Coach 1995-98 – North Belt Christian Academy, Head Coach

Awards: Hugh Durham Award Finalist (2023) Jim Phelan Award Finalist (2023) Skip Prosser Man of the Year Finalist (2023) Summit League Coach of the Year (2023)

Year-by-Year (as Head Coach): 2017-18 – 11-21 2018-19 – 11-21 2019-20 – 17-14 – CIT (Invited; Canceled due to COVID-19) 2020-21 – 18-11 – NCAA Sweet 16 2021-22 – 19-12 2022-23 – 30-5 – Summit League RS, Tourney Champs, NCAA Rd. of 64 TOTAL: 106-84

Postseason Experience (as Head Coach): 2023 – NCAA, Round of 64 2021 – NCAA, Sweet 16 2020 – CIT, Invited (canceled due to COVID-19)

Postseason Experience (on Baylor Staff): 7 NCAA tournaments – Elite Eight (2010, 2012); Sweet 16 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2017) 2 NITs – Champion (2013), Runner-Up (2009)

Coaching Tree: Solomon Bozeman (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) Talvin Hester (Louisiana Tech)

Cloud cover has caused quite the divide in our temperatures this afternoon. Temperatures flirted with the 80s for the southern portion of the region, which saw the most sunshine. Those who saw more cloud cover only reached into the 40s and 50s.

Fire Weather Warnings are in place for much of western Kansas until this evening. Please, no outdoor burning today. Any spark that starts will easily be spread.

Rain returns to the forecast this evening as spotty showers track across northern Kansas. A rumble of thunder or two is possible with isolated storms.

The rest of the region will remain dry tonight. Temperatures dip overnight back into the 30s and 40s with increasing cloud cover.

Highs tomorrow reach back into the 50s and 60s. This is right on par with our seasonal average. Cloud cover will linger with winds coming out of the north.

We start Thursday with dry skies but moisture streams back into the region during the evening. Our first round of moisture tracks through southeast Kansas and just clips the KSN viewing area.

A Marginal Risk has been issued for southeast Kansas for Thursday, as a few thunderstorms will be possible. Showers will quickly track east.

Significant rainfall will arrive Thursday night, starting in southwest Kansas and tracking east. Scattered showers are expected across the region with pockets of heavy rain. Rain is desperately needed across the state, so this will be a welcomed sight.

Showers stick around and lead us into the start of Friday. Light rainfall will be off and on through the morning, with a few snowflakes possible in northwest Kansas as morning temperatures will hover near freezing.

Off and on rain showers plague the forecast for the weekend. As temperatures dip this weekend, we could see some snow mix in with the rainfall in western Kansas on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will not be a washout, so there is no need to cancel any weekend plans, just keep an eye on the forecast and keep your umbrella handy.

Temperatures yoyo this week but hover near average. We will be cool for the weekend, but temperatures will steadily climb back into the 60s by the middle of next week.

KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Lucy Doll:

Wichita:Tonight: Mostly cloudy, windy. 10% chance of rain. Lo: 48 Wind: S 10-25Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, breezy. 10% chance of rain. Hi: 62 Wind: N/NW 10-20Tomorrow Night: Mostly cloudy, breezy. 40% chance of rain. Lo: 40 Wind: NE 10-20

Wichita WeeklyFri: Hi: 53 Lo: 36 Mostly cloudy, breezy. 40% chance of rain.Sat: Hi: 61 Lo: 37 Partly cloudy, breezy. 10% chance of rain.Sun: Hi: 54 Lo: 33 Partly cloudy, breezy. 20% chance of rain.Mon: Hi: 52 Lo: 31 Partly cloudy, breezy.Tue: Hi: 58 Lo: 35 Partly cloudy, breezy.Wed: Hi: 62 Lo: 42 Partly to mostly cloudy, breezy.

-Meteorologist Lucy Doll

When Scott Drew hired Paul Mills on his first staff at Baylor in 2003, Mills was working as a video coordinator on the Rice men’s basketball team.

It was an unpaid volunteer position. Mills’ only income was in the form of a $2,000 stipend for painting the steps in Rice’s basketball arena.

He had no Division 1 coaching experience, but came highly recommended as someone who obsessed with basketball. Mills exceeded that reputation in his 14 years with Drew, the first six as a staffer and the final nine as an assistant coach.

“Paul is a complete basketball junkie,” Drew told The Eagle in an interview Wednesday morning when Wichita State officially announced Mills as its next head coach.

“He can tell you about every Rick Majerus video tape. He’s a true student of the game. When we first got to the Big 12, he was studying Eddie Sutton, Bob Knight, Kelvin Sampson, Rick Barnes. He’s studied all of those guys. And if you ever need the movie ‘Hoosiers’ recited line for line, he can do that for you as well.”

Mills is the latest in Drew’s coaching tree to earn a promotion in the coaching world. Former Baylor assistants Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Grant McCasland (North Texas) and Matt Driscoll (North Florida) have all excelled as first-time head coaches after being tutored by Drew.

At his news conference in New York City ahead of K-State’s Sweet 16 game on Thursday, Tang delved into how Drew helped prepare him for success on his own.

“I was blessed to work with Scott and he did a great job of helping prepare me for this,” Tang said. “He never treated me as an assistant, always told me to act like a head coach and treat the program like it was mine.”

When asked specifically about Mills, Tang became emotional thinking about his former colleague.

“I absolutely love Paul Mills,” Tang said. “He’s like a brother to me. So happy for him and his family. He’s going to be incredible because he is passionate about young people and about developing young men. There’s no throttle, no hold-back with him in terms of love and what he pours into his guys.”

Back in Waco, Drew said he beamed with pride when he found out Mills was taking over the Wichita State program. It made him reflect once again on their time spent together.

“He helped us build Baylor basketball into the program it is today,” said Drew, who won the national championship with the Bears in 2021. “He’s a real high-character man, a tremendous family man, a Godly man. Somebody who doesn’t really have a lot of hobbies. It’s just basketball. He loves relationships and loves building them, pouring into them.”

Growing up a basketball fan, Drew remembers Wichita State at the height of its powers in the 1980s and then became plenty familiar with the Shockers when his Baylor teams squared off against them three times during the Gregg Marshall era.

He believes Mills is the perfect coach to lead WSU in the future.

“With the resources and the conference they’re in, there’s no reason why he can’t build Wichita State back into that power they were,” Drew said. “And he’s going to do it the right way. He’s never going to embarrass the school or the community.

“Wichita is going to be very proud of the basketball product they put on the court. Coach Mills is a servant leader and as fans and Shocker nation spend more time with him and get to know him, they are really going to love Coach Mills the person.”

The servant leadership style is one that was taught by Drew at Baylor and the common link between him and his former assistant coaches. Tang credited his former boss for showing him how to create the same culture in his own program.

“Scott really exemplified what it is to be a servant leader,” Tang said. “And so following in that mold of leadership, I’m here to serve these guys, our staff, our community. I want our guys to have incredible experiences that have nothing to do with winning and losing. For them to understand that there’s a great life for them after the ball stops bouncing. They’ve got to be great men and great husbands and great fathers and the characteristics that you have to have in order to do those things.”

It’s safe to say Mills will approach his work at Wichita State the same way. In fact, it reminded Tang of a conversation they once had back in their days together in Waco.

“He said, ‘Tang, 10s hang with 10s and 1s hang with 1s,’” Tang said. “He’s a 10 and he’s going to have some 10s around him.”

Friday's WBJ Emerging Leaders roundtable dove into a part of the hiring process that can sometimes get stale: asking engaging interview questions that benefit both the employer and applicant.

Aaron Miller of Syndeo, a human resources company, said he works to take a conversational approach to interviews he's leading while also adjusting the questions to fit the role type.

He said one of his favorite questions to ask is about a time the applicant made a mistake, and then have them explain how they corrected it.

"A lot of times that helps me understand if the employee is the type that's going to shy away from conflict and hide what's really going on, or if they're going to be proactive and understand the goal and scope of their work that they need to get ahead of this," Miller said.

GLMV Architecture's Fred Britain said he also prioritizes asking about a person's response to a problem.

"I just want to know that you wouldn't run away (from a failure), because that's what hurts the most," he said. "We have a large team, and if no one says anything, it gets worse."

Miller added he does not avoid the topic of compensation in an initial interview, saying he typically asks that as the last question.

"I think it's the due diligence of the company and in everybody's best interest to talk about that head on," said Miller, who noted he can flag early if the applicant's expectations are outside of the company's range.

Other Emerging Leaders provided additional advice based on experiences being interviewed and being the interviewer.

Shannon O'Neil of Adams Brown said she asks questions that dig into what an applicant does not enjoy doing. This helps her determine if that could be an issue because those same tasks might be key to the person's success in the role.

Tashina Rickerson of Elite Staffing Solutions said she wants to hear people share more about themselves — both as a professional and as a person — to get to know them better.

Others highlighted how a productive interview experience goes beyond just the questions being asked.

GSI Engineering's Matthew Tye shared the positive impact of the person who hired him taking him around Wichita — when Tye was new to the city — as part of the process.

He also said his company makes sure applicants are able to meet the people they could end up working with face to face as part of ensuring cultural fit.

"If you don't get along with your coworkers, it's going to be a rough time for everyone," Tye said.

Other Emerging Leaders who joined Friday's discussion were Chelsey Humig of Andover State Bank, Jarrod Janzing of NoxNumis, Colin Marsh of Murfin Inc., and Matthew Tucker of BHC.