SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Drury University has agreed to terms with Vice President and Director of Athletics Nyla Milleson on a four-year contract extension, DU President Dr. Jeff Frederick announced Monday.

Milleson, who was named Drury's director of athletics in February 2022, will lead the Panthers and Lady Panthers through the 2029-30 academic year under the terms of her extension.

Throughout Milleson's four years as Drury's lead administrator for athletics, DU has experienced unprecedented growth in both student-athlete enrollment and revenue generation, while maintaining an elite standard of achievement in the competitive arena and in the classroom.

"It would be hard to find many aspects of higher education in as much transition as athletics," Frederick said. "Nyla's steady hand, deep understanding of Drury, Springfield, and the Ozarks, and strong relationships have been integral in our ongoing success. From national championships, national and conference contention, the wide-ranging successes in NCAA and non-NCAA sports, outstanding student-athlete performance in the classroom, and building future leaders, Nyla has captained a range of excellence all across our athletic footprint. We are blessed to have her at the helm."  

Drury's NCAA athletic programs continue to achieve as consistent championship contenders, not only in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but among all NCAA Division II programs nationwide. During Milleson's tenure, the Panthers and Lady Panthers have captured eight conference titles and represented Drury in NCAA postseason competition on 32 occasions. Additionally, the Drury men's and women's basketball programs have led the GLVC in cumulative home attendance in each of her four years at the helm of the department, with both teams ranking among the top 15 nationally each season.

Academically, the Panthers set department records with eight student-athletes earning CSC Academic All-America recognition and 293 total Academic All-GLVC honorees last year. Furthermore, all 33 varsity sport programs posted at least a 3.0 team GPA for 2025, and Drury's NCAA student-athletes recording an average individual GPA of 3.49 for the 2024-25 academic year.

Milleson also piloted Drury Athletics through a department-wide restructuring that included the addition of two senior-level administrator positions and several additional full-time athletics staff members last spring.

Under her guidance, DU enjoyed another record-setting fundraising effort, with the 2025 Champions Challenge generating $463,647 in revenue for athletics. That figure shattered the department fundraising standard for a fourth-consecutive year under Milleson's leadership.

"What an incredible four years it's been," Milleson said. "I'm grateful for the leadership of Dr. Frederick and our Board of Trustees, and for their belief in me. I'm excited for the opportunity to continue leading this department and working with such an outstanding group of student-athletes, coaches and administrators in adding to our championship tradition here at Drury."
 
Milleson's Highlights as Drury's Vice President and Director of Athletics:

• 17 Drury student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-Americans
• 8 GLVC team championships and 32 NCAA postseason appearances
• Led hiring efforts for 13 head coaching positions
• Record-setting fundraising efforts in four-consecutive Champions Challenge campaigns, including 2025 effort that generated over $463,000 for DU Athletics
• All 33 Drury varsity programs registered at least a 3.0 team GPA in 2025, with the Panthers' NCAA student-athletes averaging a 3.49 individual GPA for 2024-25
• Oversaw 42-percent growth in student-athlete enrollment from 2022-26, including the addition of two sport programs