Bill Mills

Coach (1962-1966)

Bill was a 4-year letterman as guard and end at Southeastern Oklahoma State where he received his Bachelor of Science degree; he obtained his master’s degree at Oklahoma University.  He coached football, golf, tennis and wrestling at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City before coming to Coffeyville Community College.  He was an assistant coach under Dean Pryor and became head coach of the Ravens in 1962.  He had great teams, going 8-2 in 1962; 8-2 in 1963; 9-1 in 1964; 9-1 in 1965; 6-4 in 1966.  He had a lot of players from all over the country especially back east that came to Coffeyville and a number chose to live in this area after they finished at CCC.

His great teams turned out 9 All-Americans: R.C. Brown, Sullivan Mills, and Burl Wood in 1962; Bern Blanchard, Gary Jamison in 1963; Cecil Cordell and Willie Fields in 1964; Clarence Barett and Victor Williams in 1965.  He also had a number of great players including Gary Busey, movie and TV star.

Many stories have been told about the toughness of the practices and the approach to the game during this time period.  This was an unique period of time in junior college football in the state of Kansas.  Many Coffeyville fans and boosters remember the great teams and players in the 1960s.