Tia McMillian

Tia McMillian was named an assistant coach for the Florida Institute of Technology women’s basketball program in April 2025, joining the Panthers as part of Head Coach Ashley Raley-Ross’s staff. McMillian brings a strong background in coaching, operations, and player development, with experience spanning high school, post-graduate, and international basketball. At Florida Tech, she contributes to on-court instruction, guard development, recruiting support, and the daily operations of the women’s basketball program as it competes in the Sunshine State Conference. Prior to arriving in Melbourne, McMillian spent several years at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she most recently served as Coordinator of Athletic Operations while also acting as head coach of the Regional High School Girls Team. In addition to those roles, she worked as an assistant coach for the Girls Post-Graduate, Girls National High School, and regional teams. Her responsibilities extended well beyond coaching, as she managed travel logistics, game-day operations, and scheduling for the academy’s basketball programs. On the court, McMillian specialized in guard development, implementing detailed skill plans focused on ball handling, shooting efficiency, and basketball IQ. Her efforts helped lead the Girls National Team to a National SIAA State Championship. McMillian also gained international coaching experience in 2023 as an assistant coach with Immaculate Sports Global in Hong Kong. A former scholar-athlete at Queens University of Charlotte, she served as a two-year team captain and SAAC Leadership Representative and earned her bachelor’s degree in 2022.