By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Millie Gilion, athletic director at Crowder College, is returning to the coaching ranks as softball coach at Neosho High School.
A laughing Gilion suggested Friday she really hasn’t been away.
“I coach all summer, and I believe we played 90 games last summer,” Gilion said. “I’ve never been away from coaching.
“Still, I guess I haven’t coached at the high school level,” Gilion said.
Gilion, who was inducted into the NJCAA Fast Pitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, guided Crowder to a record of 506-141 in 13 seasons. She also was a graduate assistant at Northeastern State of Tahlequah before taking the reins at Crowder in 1987-88.
Melissa Clark, who assisted Grant Young last season, joins Gilion in guiding the Wildcats.
“It will be a great experience for me,” Clark said. “Coach Gilion obviously brings a lot of knowledge and there are always things to learn.”
Said Gilion: “I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the players and coach Clark. Coach Clark has done an outstanding job working with the players this summer.”
Clark has taken the Wildcats to a team camp at Missouri Southern. They also compete in a league at Carthage on Wednesday nights.
Clark also helps with conditioning and agility workouts during the week (in June and July).
The Neosho head position became vacant with the late departure of Young to Purdy.
“I’m looking forward to the experience,” Gilion said. “It will be a lot of fun.”
Gilion (formerly George) starred at Crowder as a softball player out of Miami High School. Her husband, Jamey, coaches at nearby East Newton High School and their daughter, Ashley, will be a sophomore softball player at Neosho.
“This job will be after hours (from her Crowder duties) and will last about eight weeks,” she said.
Gilion emphasized that softball preparation for a season is different.
“Most of our returning varsity players (from last season) are playing in the summer,” she said. “Most of our players will come into the season ready to go.”
Cindy Brown, director of public information at Crowder, said in a release that Gilion taking the Neosho High School position is an example of how Crowder “always has been proactive in responding to the community’s needs.
“Just last year, Crowder opened its Longwell Museum for operations of Scholastic’s Neosho Call Center,” Brown said. “Our history of helping goes back 20 years when Benton School was condemned and Crowder’s Newton Hall and CCTEC housed elementary students so they could finish the school year.
“We are again stepping to the plate to help the community,” Brown said. “Part of Crowder’s mission is a focus on the strong ties and relationships between the college and the community.”
Sports
Hall of Fame coach to take Neosho post
Former Crowder College coach Gilion selected to guide softball program
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
