Photo courtesy of City of Trussville.
Chris Mills, new Trussville Parks & Rec director
Chris Mills, new Trussville Parks & Rec director
The City of Trussville has announced Chris Mills as the next director of Parks and Recreation, succeeding longtime director David Vinson, who retired at the end of 2025.
Mills has more than 20 years of leadership experience in education, athletics, facility management and community recreation, as well as deep, longstanding ties to Trussville. His career reflects a demonstrated commitment to youth development, team building and operational excellence.
Mills’ coaching and recreation experience spans two decades and multiple levels — from college athletics to high school programs, youth leagues and community sports. His resume reflects a lifelong commitment to developing young athletes, promoting teamwork and building strong, positive cultures.
Across schools and community programs, Mills has served in roles such as offensive coordinator, head football coach, soccer coach, golf coach, assistant track coach, intramural director and youth league coach. He has coached with Trussville Parks and Recreation for years, including flag football, T-Ball, baseball and Husky Hoops basketball. His coaching record also includes leading teams to multiple championship-level seasons and supporting successful athletic programs across several school systems.
In addition to coaching, Mills brings significant experience managing multi-use facilities, athletic campuses and community spaces. Most recently serving as assistant principal for Springville High School, he oversaw operations and maintenance, supervised staff, managed budgets and capital projects, coordinated athletic and community events, and strengthened safety, emergency response and culture-building initiatives.
His operational experience ranges from scheduling recreational programs to managing fields, gyms, event operations, custodial teams and equipment procurement — skills directly aligned with the needs of Trussville’s recreational system.
As director, Mills will be tasked with:
- Enhancing the organizational culture within Parks and Recreation by fostering professionalism, communication and teamwork.
- Improving financial solvency — focusing on well-managed budgets, efficient operations and smart use of resources.
- Exploring creative opportunities to expand recreational offerings, increase community engagement and elevate the overall experience for Trussville residents.
His vision includes building programs that promote wellness, family involvement and civic pride — values already reflected throughout his career.
Beyond his professional credentials, Mills has deep personal connections to Trussville. He has coached numerous youth teams, served on the Trussville Youth Football League board and contributed significantly to local programs over many years.
“Chris understands this community because he has lived it — on our fields, in our gyms and alongside our families,” said Mayor Ben Short. “His combination of professional leadership, coaching experience, and passion for Trussville’s youth and quality of life makes him the right leader to guide our Parks and Recreation department forward.”
The City of Trussville expresses its sincere gratitude to Director Vinson for his steadfast leadership and dedication and proudly welcomes Chris Mills as the next steward of Trussville’s recreational future.
– Submitted by City of Trussville.
