Join ORU Athletics every Friday in a weekly series featuring interviews with coaches and staff members.
10 Questions with Paul Mills, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Oral Roberts University:
- We're now over two months into the coronavirus pandemic. Are you and your family doing different things at home to pass the time?
Now that school is over for my children it is a little different routine. My normal days usually begin around 6:00AM and that routine hasn't changed. My children have been busy with other activities since school is over: volleyball lessons, preparing for camp, swimming, and hanging out with friends. My wife and I have enjoyed the time as a family during this downtime due to the pandemic, but we're glad things are starting to open up and return to some degree of normal.
- There is obviously some ORU basketball business to take care of. What is a typical day like for you now?
I'm usually reading around 6:15AM as I enjoy the quietness of the mornings while drinking coffee. By 8:00 I'm looking over recruiting and scheduling. I'm on the phone or in Zoom meetings from about 8:30AM until 3:00PM. There have been a number of initiatives from coaches and organizations to utilize the space to discuss basketball and leadership topics so that's been enjoyable. I do try to exercise each evening around 4. It's dinner with the family after working out and then usually more phone conversations with potential recruits and their families.
- Now that recruiting for the upcoming season is complete, how satisfied are you with your new players?
I'm excited about the group we have coming onto our team. I believe we have a good group of experience at the college level in RJ Glasper, Sheldon Stevens, and Kareem Thompson. We also add young talent in Jamie Bergens and Nate Clover. It's a good blend and helps address some of our needs.
- What are you and your coaches doing to maintain contact with the players?
We speak and text with them to ensure they are safe and if we can help them in any way. College players are pretty independent and so our communication is about keeping them updated with what's going on given the current climate.
- Student-athletes can come back to campus in June. How will that look for ORU basketball?
Student's have been permitted to return to campus for voluntary activities during June. However, coaches can't be with them in the gym. Additionally, players must maintain social distance so there can't be any 5-on-5 or 1-on-1. Therefore, we likely won't have them back in June due to coaches restrictions and our inability to work them out in the gym under current conditions. Hopefully, the parameters change in the coming weeks and we can be with our players in the gym and allow them to compete without a social distance restriction and still be safe.
- How difficult is it to prepare the players given the coronavirus limitations?
The biggest obstacle in my mind is developing chemistry and fostering real relationships. If we can't be around each other, it's hard to develop trust with our veterans and new players. That is a HUGE obstacle in my mind and we are attempting to find other ways to foster authentic relationships without being in the same place. It's difficult as there is no substitute for face-to-face time and genuine fellowship.
- How is the pandemic affecting your attempt to finalize the game schedule this fall?
Our budget needs have increased due to budget cuts. We are attempting to stay regional for a large portion of our schedule since we don't know what traveling via planes will expose to in airports and different parts of the country. We are making progress and I do feel we will have a schedule that will be competitive and prepare us for the Summit League season.
- Have any of your players or families been affected by the pandemic?
Yes. Some of our player's families have lost their jobs. There have been more than 36 million who have filed for unemployment in America due to the impact of COVID-19 and our players families have been impacted by this too. We have also had players family members contract the virus. It's been a trying time, but praise God those who have contracted the virus are recovering.
- Things are slowly starting to open up in the Tulsa area. Still, how careful do the players have to be regarding the coronavirus?
As we receive additional data about COVID-19, we now know more about the virus and its impact. The mortality rate is different among different age groups, however, we know that it is extremely contagious. We have players who can testify that you don't want to contract this virus because they have seen the ramifications at a personal level. Therefore, we need to take every reasonable precaution, given the respective data, to ensure that we are putting ourselves in the best possible situation to not come in contact with this virus from hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing, and other prescribed CDC guidelines.
- As a head coach, does this season have the potential to be your most difficult ever, given the limitations from the pandemic?
I don't think so. It will be a different season, but I don't think it will be a difficult season. I think we will be in a good position because of our talent, our experience, and our support. I'm excited about the upcoming year!
10 Questions with....
March 27, 2020 – Mike Carter
April 3, 2020 – Ryan Bush
April 10, 2020 – Mark Milner
April 17, 2020 – Joe Dial
April 24, 2020 – Lance Watson
May 1, 2020 – Roger Bush
May 8, 2020 – Ashtin Meerpohl
May 15, 2020 – Tim Johnson
May 22, 2020 – Adam Hildebrandt
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