WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7:00pm (AEDT) via SBS Sport Facebook, or catch up via SBS On Demand.
Sydney-born Mills, the only current female head coach of a men’s national basketball team, is concerned by the lack of female leaders in elite Australian backetball coaching, and points out that it hasn't always been this dire in the past.
Mills moved to Africa to find head coaching jobs of senior men's club and national teams. Currently in charge of Kenya's men's national team, just last month she led the Morans to a place at the African Championships for the first time since 1993 - stunning 11-time champions Angola on the way.
"I remember when I was growing up, female coaches absolutely dominated the WNBL," Mills told Megan Hustwaite on Courtside 1v1.
"We had Carrie Graf, Jan Stirling, Karen Dalton, Lori Chizik.
"I think that there were eight teams back when I was watching, and six of them were coached by women.
"So now, in the 42nd season, we've now only got two female head coaches.
"How do we expect girls and young women to dream of doing great things if they don't have any visible role models?
"If these girls and young women are watching the WNBL and the NBL and don't see any female coaches - what message does that send them?
"We are reinforcing the notion that coaching is for men.
"And this isn't just Australian issue obviously, this is a global one.
"Federations should be looking to engage and encourage girls and young women with regard to coaching and actually providing opportunities for them to coach, and be encouraging them to coach at whatever level, any agenda that they would like to do so."
The interview is part of an SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1, which gives fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7 pm (AEDT) via SBS Sport Facebook - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
Mills discussed numerous topics with Hustwaite, including the following:
0.31 - Leading Kenya’s national men’s team back into Afro Basket for the first time in 28 years
1.20 - The long journey from growing up playing basketball in Sydney to coaching in Kenya
1.25 - Started coaching in Sydney age 16
1.40 - Moved to South Africa with twin sister in 2011 and began coaching men’s basketball
2.29 - Approached last year about coaching the national men’s team
2.50 - Been coaching on the continent for a decade so now it’s really rewarding to have been approached over the last 2 years
3.13 - Before that was flying herself to tournaments to put herself in front of the decision makers
5.30 - As female coaches, nothing will be handed to you on a plate, you need to go out and get those opportunities
5.46 - Carrie Graf is the reason I became a coach
6.44 - Disappointed there will be only 2 female coaches in the WNBL next season
7.10 - How do we expect women and girls to achieve great things if they don’t have visible role models
8.06 - I wouldn’t be able to coach the teams I have here in Australia
8.25 - If I was a young woman who dreamed of coaching the Boomers is that even a possibly? I highly doubt it
8.57 - Used sexist remarks as an opportunity to educate people
9.24 - Been really embraced by Africa as a whole
10.22 - Juggling a full time corporate job
11.48 - Her future basketball goals
