Eastern Oregon University Athletics

Bryan Mills returns to Mountaineer Football as the program's Defensive Coordinator. Mills previously served in the same role at Eastern Oregon from 2020–2023, after beginning his time with the program as a Defensive Backs Graduate Assistant in 2016. Prior to his earlier stint at Eastern, he coached at the NCAA Division I FCS level and NCAA Division III.  

During his tenure as defensive coordinator, Mills led one of the conference's top defensive units. His players earned three Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, along with fourteen All-Conference selections and four All-American accolades.

In 2021, Mills guided the Mountaineer defense to a strong national showing, ranking 36th in the NAIA in scoring defense by allowing just 22.8 points per game—third best in the conference. The defense also ranked third in the conference in sacks (28.0), which stood 24th nationally.

The 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Eastern Oregon go 3–1 and capture its first Frontier Conference title. The Mountaineers swept the league's major awards, highlighted by Chase Van Wyck being named Defensive Player of the Year and earning AFCA-NAIA First Team All-American honors, while four additional players received All-Frontier recognition.

As a graduate assistant in 2016, Mills helped guide Eastern Oregon to its first NAIA playoff appearance in program history. The team advanced to the semifinals, including a quarterfinal victory over defending national champion and top-ranked Marian, and finished the season 10–3. He earned his Master of Business Administration from EOU in 2017.

In addition to his experience at Eastern Oregon, Mills spent three seasons at Eastern Washington as a defensive analyst before being promoted to a safeties coach, contributing to the program's 2018Big Sky Conference Championship and FCS National Championship run. He also returned to his alma mater, Pacific University, where he coached safeties for two seasons and helped the Boxers earn a share of the 2014 Northwest Conference regular season title.

A graduate of Pacific, Mills earned his Bachelor's degree in Education with a minor in sociology in 2014. He was a four-year starter for the Boxers, leading the Northwest Conference in pass breakups in 2012 while earning All-NWC honors multiple times.

A native of Eastern Oregon, Mills is a graduate of Imbler High School, where he was a four-time All-Old Oregon League selection and a two-time All-State honoree as both a quarterback and defensive back. He is married to Kelli and has one daughter, Breelyn.