Dr. Paul Mills served as Marion College’s first Athletic Director from 1968-1972. Mills came to Marion College in 1961 as the first full-time Physical Education instructor and also taught sociology courses. From 1965-68 Mills earned a Ph.D. in Sport History from the University of Maryland before returning full time to Marion College in 1968. Mills’ work with the Marion College intramurals program catapulted the College’s start of intercollegiate sports in 1968. In the first year of intercollegiate athletics, Marion College offered nine sports in track & field, cross country, volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and baseball. Upon the start of Athletics, Mills served as the first Head Men’s Basketball Coach from 1968-1978, Head Men’s Soccer Coach from 1968-80, and Head Baseball Coach from 1968-1969. A special team for Mills was the 1976 men’s basketball team that he took on a missions trip to Poland. In 1983, Mills left Marion to become the President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, after 22 years of service to Marion College from 1961-1983.
