Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
It’s not often a coach has the opportunity to build a football program from the ground up. As Challace McMillin watches the James Madison University football team perform each Saturday, he has to be proud that the JMU football program began in 1972 thanks to his creativity and genius. Challace, who served as James Madison’s head football coach from 1972-1984, has won numerous Coach of the Year awards. His teams were nationally ranked at the NCAA Division III, Division II and Division 1AA levels, where the JMU program currently resides and is recognized as one of the top programs in the country.
Rhodes is proud Challace developed his skills as a great teacher and coach under the guidance of Dr. Bob Amy, Rick Mayes, Woody Johnson, Freeman Marr and Jesse Johnson. Challace participated in four years of football and two years of track for the Lynx. He was selected All College Athletic Conference as a junior and senior when he led the team in tackles and sacks. In 1963 Challace’s teammates selected him team captain. He was academically outstanding as well. A Biology major, Challace was selected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. While much of Challace’s national acclaim has been for leading James Madison’s highly successful football program, he was also a devoted and respected Professor of Kinesiology at JMU. Now retired, he serves as a Mental Training Coach for the athletic teams at James Madison.
Challace was inducted into the James Madison University Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. It is only fitting that Rhodes induct CHALLACE JOE MCMILLIN, our distinguished alumnus, scholar, athlete and coach, into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 19th day of October, 2007.
