Josh Mills returns to Ripon College as an assistant men's basketball coach for the 2022-2023 season.

"We are thrilled to have Josh back on the sidelines with us," said Ryan Kane, director of athletics and head men's basketball coach. "He is a face our players and our staff are familiar with. He brings a great deal of experience with our program and an even deeper passion for working with our young men."

Mills returns to Ripon College after a two-year hiatus from the Red Hawks, related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last season, Mills assisted with the basketball program at Beaver Dam High School where he was a special education teacher.

During his previous 13 seasons at Ripon College, he worked with legendary coach Bob Gillespie and current coach Kane as the Red Hawks finished in the top four of the Midwest Conference eight times. In 2017 and 2020, they won the Midwest Conference Tournament Championships and received automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

Prior to joining Ripon College in 2007, Mills coached at Green Lake High School, Ripon High School and Laconia High School in Rosendale, all in Wisconsin. His high school experience was highlighted by two trips to the WIAA state tournament with Ripon and Laconia.

Mills also brings more than 20 years of experience working with basketball camps, including ones at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University in Indiana and the prestigious Snow Valley Basketball School in Waverly, Iowa.

Mills earned his Bachelor of Arts in elementary education in 1997 from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. There, he was a member of the two-time conference championship football team and competed in the NAIA National Tournament. During his sophomore campaign, the Red Raiders played in the National Semifinal game.

Mills lives in Ripon with his wife, Andrea. His son, Isaac, is a senior at UW-Madison and his daughter, Erika, is a freshman at UW-La Crosse.

"I am ecstatic to be back with the Red Hawks in 2022," Mills said. "I have a great deal of passion for the Red Hawks program. I look forward to getting back in the gym and working with this year's team and this group of seniors. I am also looking forward to recruiting the next class of Red Hawks."

The Red Hawks begin their season at home against St. Norbert College at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.