Former NFL player, Wauconda football coach shares proud moments

WAUCONDA – This week, Lake County Suburban Life contributor Tim Sieck sat down with Wauconda football coach Dave Mills. Mills has succeeded as a player in every level of the game – first as an outstanding high school player in Utah and then at Brigham Young University in Utah, before he ending his career in the NFL with the now-Super Bowl team, the New England Patriots, in 1986

As the coach of Wauconda, Mills shares what he enjoys most about coaching the Bulldogs.

Sieck: What is your athletic background?

Mills: I played high school and college football and signed two NFL contracts. My high school was Alta High in Sandy, Utah, where I was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. I was All-State in 1979 and the Utah Male Athlete of the Year in 1980. I then played college football at Brigham Young University where I was fortunate to be a member of the 1984 NCAA National Championship Team. In 1984, I was an All-Conference and All-America Tight End. I signed with the Washington Redskins in 1985 and the New England Patriots in 1986.

Sieck: What is your favorite thing about coaching?

Mills: Passing along the love of athletics and the life skills that athletics can help teach. Also, watching student-athletes grow as they compete, set goals and work toward team goals.

Sieck: What do you feel is the toughest thing about coaching?

Mills: Making team decisions that affect individuals.

Sieck: Can you take us through your average day during the season?

Mills: I teach classes from 7:20 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Practice is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. I leave the school about 7 p.m. to begin my huddle review of practice film and wrap up around 9 p.m. Time is used in between practices to keep up with sick players, grade reports, parent calls, etc.

Sieck: What has changed most in your sport since you played?

Mills: Video. Watching everything on a tablet or a phone is a big change. Also, the specialization of athletes in one sport and the year-round training.

Sieck: How do you define a successful season?

Mills: Success is defined by the growth of the program. Do we want to win? Yes. When the team understands the work that goes into being successful and does the work, that is success.

Sieck: Who have been your coaching mentors and how have they helped you?

Mills: LaVell Edwards (BYU), Norm Chow (BYU), Mike Holmgren (BYU), Andy Reid (BYU), Dale Perhson (Navy), Doug Berry (Alta High), Joe Gibbs (Redskins), Raymond Berry (Patriots) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).

Each on them has taught and continued to teach me that coaching is about creating a vision and working towards that vision. When you can get a group to work toward a whole vision, you have a chance at success.

Sieck: What do you like to do when you are away from coaching and the classroom?

Mills:  I enjoy my family. A great day or weekend for us usually involves watching a game, a competition or just spending time together and laughing. Athletics run very deep in our family. My wife played college basketball, my two daughters played college basketball and my son played college football.

Sieck: How would you define the “Wauconda Way” as it pertains to your sport?

Mills:  The "Wauconda Way" is to taking ownership for our actions. We enjoy our successes and work to overcome our setbacks.

Sieck: What is the best part about coaching at Wauconda?

Mills: I love the students, community and staff. This is truly a community school district.