In memory of Chuck Mills
1928-2021

Chuck Mills was the head football coach at Utah State from 1967-1972. During his six years as the Aggies' head coach, which is tied for the fourth-longest tenure in school history, he led his teams to an overall record of 38-23-1 (.621), including a 17-7 (.708) home mark. During his USU coaching career, Mills was 8-4 against US U's in-state rivals BYU and Utah, and his 38 career wins still rank third all-time in school history.

In 1971, Coach Mills took the first collegiate football tea m to Japan, where they won two games. In recognition of his ongoing contributions to the development of American football in Japan, Coach Mills is now known as the "Father of College Football in Japan." The "Mills Trophy", the Japanese equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, is presented to the top collegiate football player in Japan each year.

Early in his life, Coach Mills recognized that he had a love for the game of football.  He also realized that his limited athletic ability would most likely not enable him to play football beyond high school, so he decided to pursue a career in coaching.  His love affair with football has continued throughout his life as a player, a coach, a mentor, a consultant and a fan.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Coach Mills graduated from Illinois State University in 1950.

To remember Coach Chuck Mills, donations can be made to a scholarship endowment established by his former football players to honor Coach Mills.  The scholarship benefits qualified student-athletes who are not currently on a scholarship in the football program at Utah State University; this includes “walk-on” players or those on a partial scholarship.