Southern Nazarene University Athletics

The contributions that Dr. Larry Mills has made to athletics at Southern Nazarene University are immeasurable. After playing the 1965-66 basketball season for Southern Nazarene, Mills began to give back immediately as he took over the program from 1967 through the 1971 seasons. Mills earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from SNU in 1966 and continued his education while coaching by earning an MBA from the University of Oklahoma in 1969. Mills served his with the Oklahoma Army National Guard from 1966-72 before going on to earn his Ph.D. in management from Oklahoma as well in 1978.
 
Dr. Mills has been a constant presence on the Bethany campus as a professor from 1969 to present day. He was the chairperson of the school of business from 1989-2003 and earned the Outstanding Teaching Award in 1987. It was also in 1987 that he served as an advisor to the Southern Nazarene University Intercollegiate Management Gaming Team who won a national title at the ABSEL/Georgia Southern Multinational Business Simulation Games. They also won titles at the International Collegiate Business Policy at Nevada-Reno in 1992, UNLV in 1994, San Jose State in 1995-97 and San Diego in 2000 and 2003.
 
Dr. Mills has also published or been a contributing author to a handful of different items. He has also implemented numerous programs at SNU as well as in and around the Bethany area. He has served boards at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, advisor to SNU’s Student Government Association, Faculty Athletics’ Representative and broadcaster for SNU basketball. He has served with the Angel Tree/Angel Care Ministry since 1992.
 
His awards include the SNU Outstanding Alumni Award (1973), SNU University Award (1995), SNU Centennial Award (1999), SNU Heritage Award (2006) and SNU Alumni Players Association Award (2013).
 
What can’t be seen always is the countless hours spent mentoring student-athletes in and out of the classroom. His encouraging words and extra time spent in the office advising student-athletes carries well beyond graduation. Dr. Mills has been a friend and mentor to many of the SNU coaches as well.