Wichita State University announced today that head men’s basketball coach Paul Mills has signed a three‑year contract extension that will keep him at the helm through June 30, 2031. The deal follows three consecutive seasons of improvement and marks the longest commitment to a coach in the program’s recent history.
A Contract That Stands the Test of Time
Under Mills’ guidance the Shockers have compiled 58 victories in just three years, the second‑most win total in school history. The win streak began with 15 victories in his first year, rose to 19 the next, and culminated with a 24‑win campaign in the most recent season.
The team’s progress was reflected in the American Athletic Conference, where Wichita State finished second in the 2025‑26 standings and reached the conference championship game for the first time since joining the league in 2017‑18. That run earned Mills a nomination as a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award in 2026.
Building a Winning Culture
Individual accolades have also piled up. Xavier Bell became the first Shocker in four years to earn first‑team all‑conference honors, while Kenyon Giles set a single‑season record for three‑pointers. Will Berg, a native of Sweden, captured the American Sixth Man of the Year award, and Corey Washington and Karon Boyd added second‑ and third‑team recognitions respectively.
Beyond the hardwood, Mills has prioritized player development and academic success. The 2023‑24 squad earned the American Men’s Basketball Team Academic Excellence Award, and two of the top‑five semester GPAs in program history occurred during his tenure. The team also volunteers annually with Habitat for Humanity, underscoring a commitment to community service.
Academic Excellence and Community Service
Perhaps most striking is the stability he has cultivated amid the transfer portal era. Wichita State has lost only eight scholarship players to the portal since 2024, and ten of the 24‑win roster return for the upcoming season, a rarity in today’s college basketball landscape.