Bob McMillen

Head Coach Bob McMillen was highly successful as a rookie head coach. McMillen was named runner-up for the AFL’s Coach of the Year award after leading the Rush to a Central Division title and a 13-5 record in 2011. The 13-win mark was a franchise record for the Rush, who made it to the National Conference Championship Game. McMillen’s guidance also helped revive the defense, allowing a league-low 46 points a game. On the other side of the ball, the offense featured an array of talented athletes, as twenty different players found the end zone at least once.

As one of the AFL’s most celebrated and decorated players, McMillen has been active in the AFL for 15 years and earned three AFL Championship rings during his time as a player. Those three championships were earned with three different teams making him one of only three players in AFL history to win an ArenaBowl title with three different franchises.

Selected as one of the 20 Greatest Players in AFL history, McMillen played 13 consecutive seasons in the AFL including his last five with the Rush. While wearing Rush blue, McMillen became one of the most popular players in team history, helping lead Chicago to the 2006 ArenaBowl XX title. During his time on the field, he rewrote the Rush record book, setting single game, season and career records for rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. He finished his playing career second on the AFL’s all-time leading rushing list with 1,508 yards and fifth all-time in rushing touchdowns with a total of 85.

When McMillen retired from playing in 2007, he immediately took to the sidelines by joining the Rush coaching staff as the fullbacks/linebackers coach. During the 2010 season he added assistant head coach experience to his extensive professional football resume.

A native of the Chicago suburbs, McMillen was a three-time college football All-American. He and his wife, Joanie, have two sons and a daughter ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old. He enjoys spending his free time with his family and watching his kids play sports and participate in school activities