From the Gridiron to the Diamond: Lawyer Milloy’s Next Chapter as a #GirlDad Coach
The former NFL star is helping build champions on and off the field in Redmond’s powerhouse softball program.
REDMOND, Wash. – It was another symbol of spring in the Pacific Northwest: a softball team trying to squeeze in photo day during a very brief break from the rain.
While Redmond’s players worked through all the requisite poses, the coaching staff – Mike Pluschke, Maddie Morgan, and Lawyer Milloy – stood along the third-base line, watching the festivities.
For local sports fans, Milloy is a household name. He starred as a football player at Washington, played for the Seahawks, and has become the ultimate softball #GirlDad, coaching his daughters Amirah, Kiki, Tia, and Brea.
The longer he’s coached, the more softball has become a central part of his life. Though he doesn’t currently have a daughter on the team (Brea has yet to reach high school), he continues to coach the Mustangs.
“If I take a break now, I probably won’t want to pick it back up in two years,” he said with a laugh. “And I love it, man. I especially love coaching girls.”
At this stage of life, Milloy is committed to “empowering young women.”
“Girls are resilient,” he said. “They can do all the things the boys can do – they just need someone to believe in them.”
Though Milloy earned most of his notoriety on the football field, he was twice selected in the MLB Draft – once as a pitcher and once as a center fielder – making his transition to coaching softball a natural one.
“It’s the same game – just in a smaller package,” he said.
As a football player, Milloy was named to four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl. His wife, Claudine, was a two-time All-American on Washington’s track team. Sports run in the family.
Milloy’s oldest daughter, Amirah, played in the Women’s College World Series as a senior at Washington. Kiki was a star at Tennessee, leading all D-I players in home runs with 25 as a senior. Tia is currently a freshman at Oklahoma, while Brea is building her own résumé.
What’s it like to raise – and coach – four softball standouts?
“I had to learn how to balance being a coach and being a dad,” he said. “That’s not easy, but over 10 years, I think I’ve got it down.”
As a coach, Milloy has been a part of two state championships: a 3A title with Kiki and a 4A title with Tia. He’s become a cornerstone of a program that has established itself as one of the best in the state.
“We’ve created an atmosphere where you’re always putting yourself in a position to win,” he said.
With a 14-3-1 record in 2025, the Mustangs are, once again, a state-title contender. But winning isn’t the primary reason Milloy coaches.
“I’m most proud not just of what we’ve done here, but of what the girls have gone on to do after – graduating college, calling me for job referrals,” he said. “That’s when you know it’s bigger than the game.”
From football legend to full-time mentor, Milloy’s playbook may have changed – but he continues to make an impact on and off the field.
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