Florida Tech Basketball Coach Billy Mims Heads to Greece for Elite Basketball Camp

By  //  July 23, 2021

BILLY MIMS: Basketball has been my ticket to see the world

ABOVE VIDEO: Billy Mims is the all-time winningest basketball coach in Florida Tech history. Florida Tech head coach Billy Mims is set to serve as the keynote speaker and leading coaching expert at the 2021 Elite Basketball Camps and Clinics in Heraklion, Greece this summer.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech head coach Billy Mims is set to serve as the keynote speaker and leading coaching expert at the 2021 Elite Basketball Camps and Clinics in Heraklion, Greece this summer.

This will be Mims’ second time serving in this role for the Elite Basketball Camps and Clinics, which take place during the Under-20 FIBA European Championships and are organized by Athlelixis, an educational organization based in Athens, Greece that provides consultation services to coaches, parents, and athletes.

“I’m very excited to be invited back to Greece this summer to again speak to camps and clinics in Heraklion,” said Mims.

“The hospitality of the people there is amazing, and the landscape is breathtaking. Basketball is a huge sport in Greece, and the young people playing the game are very enthusiastic. I look forward to being a positive ambassador for Florida Tech and the U.S.A. during my time there.” (Florida Tech image)

“The hospitality of the people there is amazing, and the landscape is breathtaking. Basketball is a huge sport in Greece, and the young people playing the game are very enthusiastic. I look forward to being a positive ambassador for Florida Tech and the U.S.A. during my time there.”

Mims at Camp

Over the last five years, NCAA and NBA level coaches have participated in a series of camps and clinics in Olympia, Giannena, Athens, and Heraklion, teaching the fundamentals of basketball to talented Greek athletes and presenting their work to Greek coaches.

The list of recent coaches to work at the Elite Basketball Camps and Clinics includes David Blatt (Olympiacos B.C.), Dino Rada (Croatian Basketball Federation), Fred Hoiberg (NBA), Matt Abdelmashie (University of Nebraska), Anthony Crocitto (Saint Leo University), Vince Alexander (Clayton State University), Nick Lambros (Hardwick College), Todd McGuinness (Case Western Reserve University).

Mims spent six seasons as the head coach of Barry where he was the first coach to guide the Bucs to the SSC Tournament Championship Game.

In 1995 Mims went back overseas where he spent the next 10 years in the British professional league. He served as head coach and director of player personnel for two different clubs, the London Leopards and the Leicester Riders.

MAJOR MILESTONE: In February 2018, Florida Tech Panthers Men’s head basketball coach Billy Mims achieved the big career milestone of reaching 600 wins.

In the U.K., Mims captured three national championships in 1997, 1998 and 2001 and was named league coach of the year twice in 1998 by the BBL and 2001 by The Sun, England’s largest daily newspaper.

It was in England where Mims’ life would become complete as he met his beautiful wife Lynne, and their three very talented children Courtney, Callie, and Joshua were born.

Mims returned to the U.S. following an 11-year professional career record of 317-238 and after one year at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin was hired by Florida Tech.

During his 13-seasons at FIT, Mims has become its all-time winningest coach (196) and led the program to their first-ever Sunshine State Conference title in 2012. Mims has coached 16 All-SSC players and two All-Americans.

In February 2018, Mims achieved the big career milestone of reaching 600 wins.

MENTOR: In addition to his impressive coaching background, Coach Billy Mims has spoken and coached at countless clinics and has been extremely active in various community service projects. Above, Coach Mims gives coaching tips to the kids at St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy.

AMAZING JOURNEY

In addition to his impressive coaching background, Mims has spoken and coached at countless clinics and has been extremely active in various community service projects, such as his “Read to Succeed” program and highly popular “Slam Dunk Smoking” program.

To know Billy Mims is to know how much he loves his family, Florida Tech and the Space Coast or “Paradise” as he calls it. Most coaches want to be remembered for wins and losses, not Mims.

“I just want to be remembered as someone that used basketball and a little southern hospitality to bring smiles to a lot of faces,” said Mims.

“Basketball has been my ticket to see the world and every person I’ve met along the way has been just as special as each victory on this amazing journey.”

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