Santa Rosa County School District Superintendant Tim Wyrosdick said, “I'm at a loss of words to describe the depth of loss we're feeling in Santa Rosa County,” after Tuesday night’s tragedy. Widely respected and loved school servant, Arthur McMillion, also known as Mike McMillion and Coach Mac died in a car accident last night around 9 p.m. according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Traveling east on I-10, the FHP report said McMillion lost control of his vehicle and left the road onto the south shoulder. The 1999 Silverado ejected McMillion as it tumbled down the embankment. According to the report, he was not wearing his seatbelt. The former Milton High School coach and Hobbs Middle School dean was pronounced dead on scene. He was 56 years old.
Principal Floyd Smith of Hobbs Middle School received the news at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning with “shock and disbelief,” he said. “Of course our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.” Then he had to turn his attention to the school, the teachers and students who would be impacted. Hobbs made grief counselors available to those in need.
The students, Smith said, have been really emotional, but this feeling turned into celebrating Coach Mac, as he was known for his years as head coach at Milton High School. “They made plenty of pictures and drawings and things of that nature.” McMillion’s office, he said, became an “area dedicated to him and his memory and the good he did at Hobbs Middle School. He had a big impact on those kids and they wanted to do something to show how much they appreciated him.”
Tomorrow, many students plan to wear green, one of Hobbs’ school colors in remembrance of a man who had a tough job at the school according to Smith, “because most interactions were around something not so positive.” The job of a dean, he said, is “to enforce the Santa Rosa County school code of conduct. So he works along with me and the assistant principal to enforce and develop a discipline plan to have consistency across the infractions kids commit.”
However, Smith said, he had a way of delivering consequences while maintaining a good relationship with students who respected him. Many parents, Smith added, were former students and football players of his. “His way of doing that was really positive for our school.”
Santa Rosa County School District Superintendant Tim Wyrosdick said it was a tough day for Santa Rosa County. “Personally, and professionally, the loss of Mike McMillion creates a huge hole in the educator family. His passion for student athletes is insurmountable. He dedicated his life to not just coaching football, but to mentoring young men into young adults. I know his heart is always about providing a proper role model, serving children in our community, demanding excellence, good character, and he lived that life. He didn't just coach it; he lived it. It’s just a huge hole gone out of our family. It's a shock. The loss of life is a jolt, and devastating to Hobbs, and devastating to the Milton community. I’ve heard from student athletes all day long who want to do something to celebrate his life. He just touched a lot of people in ways that was motivational. He inspired them, and they always knew he cared. I talked to three (student athletes) this afternoon. He never left practice, never left a game without him telling them how much they meant to him and his appreciation for their work on the team. It just speaks volumes of his gracious attitude, service, and humble spirit.”
Wyrosdick added the district’s supportive wishes go out to the McMillion family. “He not only inspired his children to be good people but inspired us to be good educators, and we’re reaping the benefits. His service in our school influenced a lot in very positive ways. We will miss him greatly.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRC mourns the loss of Coach Mac