MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's basketball assistant
coach Kevin McMillan has resigned to become to head girls basketball
coach at Gibson County High School in Dyer, Tenn.
McMillan served two seasons as an assistant at Middle Tennessee,
helping the Blue Raiders to a 50-15 record and two consecutive Sun
Belt Tournament championships. Middle Tennessee set a school-record
for wins with a 30-4 record in 2006-07; posted 27 consecutive
victories this season, at the time, the nation's longest winning
streak; set a single-game attendance mark with 10,010 in the
season-opener against Maryland; and posted undefeated marks of 18-0
in the regular season and 21-0 against all Sun Belt competition.
McMillan and his wife Paige have two sons, seven-year-old Matt
and four-year-old Ben. Prior to his coaching stint at Middle
Tennessee, McMillan spent 15 years coaching girls basketball in west
Tennessee and will taking over the program at his wife's alma mater.
"This is a home run for me and my family," McMillan. "We loved
our time at Middle Tennessee and had great success, but this was an
opportunity to be closer to family and also a chance for me to be a
head coach again."
McMillan spent eight years as the head girls coach at Westview
High School in Martin, Tenn., from 1998-05, compiling a record of
195-67 and reaching the state tournament in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
From 1991-97, he was the head coach at Millington High School in
Millington, Tenn., amassing a record of 177-47 and leading his team
to the state tournament quarterfinals in 1994. Overall, McMillan has
an overall record of 372-114 as a head girls basketball coach and
was named the Jackson Sun Coach of the Year in 2003.
Under his coaching leadership, 21 players have gone on to play
basketball at the collegiate level. One of McMillan's former
players, Natalie Sneed, played at Middle Tennessee from 1995-98.
"Kevin did a fantastic job for us at Middle Tennessee and he was
a big part of our great success the last two seasons," head coach
Rick Insell said. "We wish him all the best in his new position and
with all of his future endeavors."
McMillan played basketball at Wake Forest for one season, 1985,
before transferring to Rhodes College in Memphis to finish out his
career from 1986-89. An All-Conference performer in 1988-89 and team
MVP in 1988, he received his bachelor's in math and business in 1989
from Rhodes.
GIVENS CUT BY PHOENIX MERCURY: Former Middle Tennessee
All-American Chrissy Givens was cut this week by the WNBA's Phoenix
Mercury in the team's final cut before beginning regular season play
this weekend.
Givens said a lot of positives came out of her WNBA training camp
experience.
"It was a tremendous experience," Givens said. "(Mercury general
manager) Ann Meyers (Drysdale) told me she hated to cut me, but it
was basically a numbers game. They had a lot of guards and they kept
their veterans. I made it to the last cut and a lot of people got to
see me play, which is only going to help me."
Givens, who won Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defensive
Player of the Year and tournament MVP honors the past two seasons,
was a third-round pick of the Mercury. "It was a blast. There was
nothing different I could have done. I played hard like I always do
and Ann Meyers (Drysdale) told me that," Givens said. "It's just one
of those things. I gave it my best shot and we'll see what happens
now."
Givens said she planned to discuss future opportunities with her
agent.
"There is an offer out there that I'm going to discuss with my
agent," Givens said. "I'm going to come back to Murfreesboro. I'm
going to stay in shape and hopefully I'll go overseas in October."
Givens averaged more than 22 points and six rebounds last season
and she also led the Lady Raiders in assists (4.5) and steals (3.0).
SALLY BELL NAMED SUN BELT COORDINATOR OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
OFFICIALS: Well respected and distinguished NCAA women's
basketball official Sally Bell has been named the Sun Belt
Conference's Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officials,
Commissioner Wright Waters announced this week. Bell will be
responsible for the assignment of officials for all Sun Belt home
basketball games along with overseeing and monitoring each official.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the Sun Belt Conference," Bell
said. "After 34 years of officiating, this is my vision for the rest
of my basketball career. This is a great opportunity for me to be
able to mentor and train officials through the resources and support
of the Sun Belt Conference. Our goal will be to offer outstanding
officiating services to the student athletes, coaches,
administrators and fans. I can't wait to get started."
Bell, who received the 1991 Naismith Award as recognition for
being the Women's Basketball Official of the Year, includes among
the events she has officiated 15 Final Fours and the 1996 Summer
Olympic Games in Atlanta. She also served as a member on the U.S.
Olympic Selection Committee for officials from 1996-2004.
"We are honored to have someone of Sally Bell's stature as our
Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officials," Sun Belt Conference
Commissioner Wright Waters said. "She has officiated 15 Final Fours,
and also has extensive international experience by serving as a
member of the United States Olympic Selection Committee from
1996-2004 in addition to officiating the 1996 Olympic Games in
Atlanta and numerous other prominent international events. I can't
imagine anyone in the country who is more respected and has a better
officiating resume than she does.
"Our women's basketball had a final conference RPI of eight in
2007, the conference's best finish since also posting an eight in
2001, and we also placed two teams in the NCAA Tournament for the
first time since 2001. Last season's success coupled with the
addition of Sally elevates our women's basketball to its highest
position in several years and gives us many reasons to anticipate
great things for this upcoming season and beyond."
Bell was born in Dublin, Georgia and received a bachelor's degree
from the University of Georgia in 1975 and a master's degree from
North Georgia College in 1981. She began officiating high school
basketball in 1975, moved on to NAIA and NJCAA games in 1979, and
first officiated Division I and II games in 1981. She worked her
first Final 4 in 1989 and worked every Final 4 from 1993-2005. Her
international officiating experiences also include the 2000 Olympic
Exhibition in Honolulu, Hawaii; 1994 Goodwill Games in St.
Petersburg, Russia; 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, New
York; and 1990 World Championships in Malaysia.
Bell and her husband, Jack, reside in Dahlonega, Georgia.
