We are very excited to announce the return of Nyla (Wilson) Milleson to Goodland. This distinguished alumni will join the Goodland Cowgirls as an honorary coach on Friday evening at the MAX Jones Fieldhouse in our game vs. Holcomb, Feb. 3rd at 5:00pm. Nyla has watched our team from a distance as a cowgirl fan and it is her and our dream to allow her to be a part of our incredible journey; sit on the bench one last time at Max Jones Fieldhouse and say I "coached" where my journey began. Please plan on coming out on Friday. Let's pack the MAX for the cowgirls and cowboys and welcome back Coach Milleson.
Nyla (Wilson) Milleson
Parents: Bill and Roberta Wilson
1980 Goodland High School Graduate
Member of the 1979 4A State Runner up volleyball Team
1980 4A State Champion Girls Basketball (Named to All-tournament team)
1985 Kansas State Graduate Bachelor of Education in Psychology/Physical Education
1989 Kansas State master's in education administration
36 years in coaching/education
Won 575 basketball games over a 32-year head coaching career
1985-92 Junction City High School
Coached volleyball, cross country, basketball, and track in my tenure
Head Coach girls' basketball 1989-1992
1992 3rd place finish in 6A State - only the second winning season in school history
1992-99 Glendale High School, Springfield, MO
1996 Class 4 State Champion
1996 Coach of the Year
1997 Class 4 3rd place finish
Overall Record: 157-39
1999-2007 Drury University, Springfield, MO
Given the opportunity to start a Division II women's program from scratch - recruited and planned in 1999-2000 then began playing in 2000
Won 20 games in inaugural season
2004 NCAA Division II National Runner-up
Made 5 NCAA appearances and 3 conference championships
Named conference Coach of the year 6 times
Coached 6 All-Americans
2004 squad led the nation in all divisions with a 3.8 team GPA
Overall Record: 185-36
2007-2013. Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
3 straight 20-win seasons and WNIT appearances
Coached Casey Garrison to the 2nd all-time leading scorer in Missouri State and Missouri Valley history only behind the legendary Jackie Stiles
- - A very unique opportunity and how blessed I was to stay in the same community for 21 years and going from the high school to the Division II to the Division I level and never left Springfield. Doesn't happen very often!! 🙂
2013-2021. George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Led the 2017-2018 team to the best record in school history and had the first post season victory in school history
Coached Natalie Butler who set and still holds the NCAA Division II single season rebounding record and was named player of the year
Coached Nicole Cardano-Hillary to freshman of the year, player of the year and set the career scoring record in 3 years
2021-2022. Hollister High School, Hollister, MO
Athletic Director
On February 21, 2022, returned to Drury University as the Vice President and Director of Athletics.
Became the first women athletic director at a Springfield university
Member of the 2016 Drury Sports Hall of Fame
Member of the 2018 Springfield Sports Hall of Fame
Married to Brent Milleson for 34 years
Two Sons: Barrett and Caylor and 4 beautiful grandchildren
My upbringing, support and opportunities that I was given while growing up in Goodland is such a big part of my success. My parents supported me and made sure I was able to participate in whatever I wanted. My teachers and coaches pushed me, believed in me and helped me be the best that I could be. I will forever be indebted to those that helped me be who I am today. I have and always will love being a Cowgirl and calling Goodland, Kansas HOME.