NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer program announced the addition of Kayla Mills, a national champion at USC in 2016 and the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NWSL draft, as Director of Soccer Operations on Friday.
"We are extremely fortunate and blessed to add Kayla into our program and Redbird family," fifth-year head coach Brad Silvey said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and success that is unmatched within the soccer landscape. Most importantly, she is an incredible person that will make us better and build great relationships across our staff and student-athletes."
Mills played soccer at USC from 2013-2016, winning the national championship, 3-1, over West Virginia in 2016. Mills was also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Award watch list as a senior, given to the nation's top collegiate male and female soccer players. Mills was honored as the PAC-12's Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and was a Second Team All-American.
Mills was selected fourth overall in by Sky Blue FC (now NJ/NY Gotham FC) in the 2017 NWSL draft. She spent a year and a half in the NWSL before playing three seasons in France.
For all latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @Redbird_Soccer (Twitter, Facebook) and @RedbirdSoccer on Instagram.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
