Former Capital Prep coach Tammy Millsaps has been hired as the new coach of the New London girls basketball team, according to the New London Day.
“I was drawn to the Whalers program because of its rich tradition,” Millsaps said. “My goal is to replicate the same success we were able to have at Capital Prep. All the pieces are in place: elite players, tough competition and a tradition of success.
Millsaps coached Capital Prep to a 149-34 record over nine seasons at the school, including winning CIAC state titles in Class S in 2013 and Class L three-straight seasons from 2014-16.
Capital Prep finished ranked first in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register state poll for four straight seasons.
In her time at Capital Prep, her teams would often take on the best teams from outside of Connecticut.
Millsaps is hoping to replicate that at New London.
“Of course, we want to compete night in and night out with the best in the state, regional and teams in the national rankings,” Millsaps said. “Competing and winning against tough competition are crucial for a teams long term success. I want to play Christ the King (NY), Long Island Lutheran, Riverdale Baptist (MD), Archbishop Wood (PA), St Francis Academy (MD) because these teams elevate the game and you have to execute in order to win.”
New London lost the 2016 Class L final to Capital Prep before winning the 2017 Class LL championship and being runners-up in the 2018 final to Norwalk, all under coach Holly Misto.
The Whalers appearance in the 2018 final was their fourth trip to a state championship game in six years
Millsaps will be inheriting a solid returning core including GametimeCT Second Team All-State guard junior Jayden Burns and honorable mention team member sophomore Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick.
“I know the basics. They finished the season 18-5, won their conference tournament and lost in the first round of the Class LL playoffs,” Millsaps said. “Jayden and Joniyah are exceptional players with tremendous potential to be all- state, elite players on the regional and national level. We didn’t play them this year but in previous matchups they were athletic, structured, disciplined and played with grit and determination.”
Last season, Misto was replaced by David Kohn, who coached the Whalers to an 18-5 record and a share of their seventh straight Eastern Connecticut Conference Division-I, regular-season title.
Kohn stepped down in March after one year, creating an opening once again.
“Coach Millsaps brings a pedigree of running an ultra-successful high school girls basketball program,” New London athletic director Philip Orbe said. “Her program plan for New London includes many layers. Academic support, player development, community involvement, post-secondary opportunities for her student-athletes along with fielding a competitive team. Her ability to connect with and inspire female student-athletes, personal drive, basketball knowledge, organizational and communication skills are second to none. We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Millsaps leading our girls basketball program.”
