Inductees

Up in north central Kansas, word reached a high school girls basketball coach that Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri needed to fill the same role.

This was 1992, weeks after Nyla Milleson had guided Junction City to a state third-place finish. Which already was quite a story. Seven years earlier, she had switched her college major from physical therapy to psychology to physical education and was just finishing her third year as a head coach.

“I did my homework (on Glendale), and it did not take me long to figure out that Springfield and southwest Missouri were a hotbed for girls and women’s basketball,” Milleson said.

Milleson eventually enhanced the rich tradition, leading Glendale to a state championship and then building Drury University women’s basketball into an NCAA Division II force before enjoying success at Missouri State University.

That’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Milleson with the Class of 2025.

At Glendale from 1992 to 1999, Milleson was 157-39. Her 1996 team (27-3) won the Class 4 state championship, and her 1997 team placed third.

She was the first coach of the Drury women’s basketball program beginning in the fall of 2000. The Lady Panthers were 185-36 in her seven seasons, qualifying for five NCAA Division II Tournaments – the 2004 team was the national runner-up – and winning three conference championships. Her teams also won two regionals, and Milleson was a six-time conference Coach of the Year.

She coached 14 seasons in the NCAA Division I, including six seasons at MSU. Her teams had three consecutive 20-win seasons and won the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference championship.

In 1992, Milleson arrived in Springfield for her interview with then-Springfield Public Schools athletic director Edsel Matthews (MSHOF 2005).

“Marshfield had their 105-game winning streak, and the weekend I arrived to interview, the Lady Bears were celebrating their recent trip to the Final Four,” Milleson said. “So, I was arriving at an unbelievable time for women’s/girls basketball.”

Milleson was a three-sport athlete at Goodland (Kan.) High School, played basketball at Seward Community College, and competed with the Kansas State Rodeo team.

“I am so grateful Dr. Matthews took a chance on a small-town western Kansas girl just looking for an opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives,” Milleson said.

At Glendale, coach Jeanie Calhoun retired and left a solid foundation. Milleson’s first team finished 20-6. Renee Temple was her assistant, with Trish Van Diggelen Marsh, a former Marshfield standout, her student assistant. Lynne Miller was the freshman coach.

The 1996 state championship team featured seniors Tara Mitchem, Beth Magers and Kellie Noyes.

In 1999, Drury called on Milleson to start a women’s basketball program.

“What a fantastic opportunity to do something very few people get to do – go to the collegiate level to start a program from scratch and not even have to move,” said Milleson, who had a year to recruit before the first season.

With Marsh as the top assistant, Drury’s first team was a neat mix. Kim Lenahan and Lauren Holtkamp came out of retirement, so to speak. Alison Coday had been a volleyball All-American at Clemson. Callie Newton transferred from Central Missouri.

In 2004, Drury (36-2) was the D-II national runner-up, ranked in the top three nationally in attendance and led the nation in GPA (3.8).

“I loved my time at Drury,” Milleson said. “It is truly a special place, and there is no place like Weiser Gym to coach a basketball game. The memories with so many incredible people will never be forgotten.”

At MSU, Milleson credits then-AD Bill Rowe (MSHOF Legend 2016) and Senior Woman Administrator Casey Hunt for their support. Milleson successfully kept Bolivar’s Casey Garrison (MSHOF 2023) close to home.

“I will forever cherish my time at Missouri State and the opportunity to coach the Lady Bears,” Milleson said.

Millson counts Matthews and Drury’s Barbara Cowherd (MSHOF 2016) as mentors. She also always had support from her parents, Bill and Roberta Wilson, and brothers Brad and Rod, as well as her husband of 36 years, Brent, and their sons Barrett and Caylor.

Milleson also credits Lady Bears basketball coach Cheryl Burnett (MSHOF Legend 2015) for her counsel.

“I am extremely blessed with 40 years in education, coaching and leadership positions,” Milleson said.  “While careers in coaching are largely measured in wins and losses, and I was fortunate to win many games, I am most proud of the lives I impacted and the way in which I was able to do it.”