Connor Mills - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Connor Mills

Title:
Offensive Intern - Tight Ends
Phone:
540-568-6517

Connor Mills is in his first season with the James Madison football program in 2026, as he serves as an offensive intern with the tight ends.

Mills joins the Dukes after spending the past two seasons at ETSU (2024-25), where he worked with both the quarterback and offensive line. In 2025, he was senior analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach, working directly with current JMU offensive coordinator Cam Aiken.

He was part of a coaching staff that aided ETSU in ranking is one of the top offense in the FCS, coming in at 15th in total offense (442.3) and 24th in scoring (32.5). The Buccaneers also ranked fifth in first downs (23.83), 12th on fourth down (65.2%), 14th in rushing (198.2) and 26th in passing (244.2). The 2025 offense set single-season program records in total offense per game, passing yards, completions, completion percentage and first downs, leading to a 7-5 record.

Prior to his role with the quarterbacks, Mills was offensive quality control coach and an offensive line assistant in 2024. That season, ETSU led the Southern Conference and ranked 19th in the FCS in rushing offense (194.2), as well as 27th in sacks allowed (1.42) and 29th in total offense (406.4).

He coached two linemen to All-Southern Conference honors, including the 2024 Jacobs Blocking Award winner Luke Smith, who was a First Team awardee. Derrell Bailey Jr. was also Second Team All-SoCon.

Before ETSU, Mills was a student assistant at his alma mater, New Mexico. During the 2023 season, he was an offensive assistant with the running backs, serving as the main signaler to the offense while working with running backs and tight ends on in-game adjustments. He also worked as a defensive assistant with the linebackers at UNM during the 2024 spring before moving on to ETSU.

Mills graduated from New Mexico in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He also received an associate’s degree from New Mexico Military Institute Junior College, where he was a linebacker and captain.

Carey Coaching File
2025: ETSU (Senior Analyst/Assistant Quarterbacks)
2024: ETSU (Offensive Quality Control/Offensive Line Assistant)
2023: New Mexico (Student Assistant, Running Backs and Linebackers)