A Strategic Hire for Women’s Basketball
Central Christian College of Kansas announced this week that Mike Milligan will take the reins of its women’s basketball program, tapping a coach whose career spans NAIA competition, high‑school powerhouses and several collegiate assistant posts in Mississippi, Texas and Illinois.
Milligan’s résumé reads like a masterclass in building winning cultures. After honing his craft under NAIA Hall of Fame mentor Dale Neal at Freed‑Hardeman University, he helped the Lady Lions to a school‑record 36 victories in 2013‑14, a run that included an Elite Eight appearance and a conference championship streak.
His journey then took him to Brentwood Christian School in Austin, Texas, where he steered the 5A TAPPS program to a second‑place district finish, and later to CyFair Elite Girls Basketball in Chicago, guiding a Nike EYBL 17U squad to an eighth‑place national finish.
In 2021 he joined the University of Health, Sciences, and Pharmacy as an assistant, contributing to a 20‑12 season that featured 11 conference wins, before moving to Crowley’s Ridge College where he collaborated with Brad Phillips and helped the Pioneers post an 18‑10 record.
Building a Program from the Ground Up
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Milligan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Freed‑Hardeman and says his immediate focus is recruiting student‑athletes who can thrive in the college’s academic and spiritual environment.
College officials say the hire aligns with a broader vision to blend competitive athletics with the institution’s Christian mission, a combination that could reshape the program’s trajectory in the Midwest.