Dallas-North Lake head coach Josh Mills named DIII Men's Basketball Coach of the Year
Charlotte, NC - Following leading Dallas College-North Lake (TX) to its NJCAA Division III leading fifth national championship, Josh Mills has been named the 2023-24 NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.
Mills entered his second season as the head coach of the Blazers in 2023 and improved upon their 2022 finish. The Blazers have reached the national tournament in each season under Mills, and he has complied a 54-12 record across that span. As a program, the Blazers have won two of the last three national championships.
"Our basketball program has a strong tradition and Coach Mills has taken over this program the past two seasons and protected that tradition and will no doubt carry on the tradition through his integrity and knowledge. In the coming seasons, Coach Mills will take this program to the next level with his recruiting ability and work ethic. Coach Mills is very motivated, he has a tireless motor and is the first one in, lasts one out most days," Dallas-North Lake Athlete Director Greg Sommers said.
The Blazers entered the national tournament ranked as the No. 1 overall seed, and were ranked in the top-5 nationally since November. After swiftly defeating Sandhills (NC) in the quarterfinals, this set up a game against defending champion Brookdale (NJ). In a game that saw six lead changes, the Blazers pulled away late in the second half to punch their ticket to the national championship game against host Herkimer (NY).
The national championship game was competitive, featuring 12 lead changes and eight ties throughout the game. North Lake led by one heading into the half, with Tournament Most Valuable Player Bryson Smith having 10 points. The second half saw the top seed own that billing, by outsourcing the Generals by 12 points in the second half and winning the national title. Smith was named the Tournament's MVP, and sophomores Jakob Zenon and Randy Woolf were named to the All-Tournament Team. Zenon was named a first-team all-American selection earlier this week.
"Hopefully, we are blessed enough to keep him here as part of our community and team at Dallas College North Lake and win more Championships and awards like this one. Coach Mills is very deserving of this award! He is a great coach, husband, and father," Sommers said.
