Milton head coach Kurt Mussey hands off the 2024 WIAA Division 1 state softball runner-up trophy to senior pitcher Gwen Baker. Mussey is stepping down at Milton, to take a position to coach hitters at UW-Whitewater. ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE

Editor’s note: The following are excerpts from an article by Matt Ellis published on August 8, 2025 in The Gazette.

MILTON — After nearly a decade of coaching the Milton High softball team, Kurt Mussey will join the UW-Whitewater softball coaching staff as an assistant coach, where he will primarily help with hitting.

While it wasn’t easy for the 1986 Milton graduate, he made the decision Monday.

Mussey served as the Red Hawks’ head coach for five seasons, prior to that he was an assistant coach for five years.

“It was really, really hard.” Mussey said. “Harder than I anticipated to be honest.”

Mussey also coached youth and club teams in Milton. Because of that he saw his players grow into young adults…..

Now, as a member of the Warhawks’ coaching staff, he’ll have the chance to help the program secure its first national championship. Whitewater finished as NCAA Division III runners-up in 1987 and 2008. It is also a 15-time regular season champion of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and a 13-time WIAC Tournament winner.

“It’s exciting to be able to join such a successful program,” Mussey said. “I’m excited to learn and help where I can. It’s a nationally recognized program with an amazing coaching staff. I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”