TULSA - The University of Tulsa today named John Phillips as head basketball coach of the Golden Hurricane, announced TU's Director of Athletics Judy MacLeod. Phillips, who has spent the past four seasons on the Tulsa coaching staff, becomes the 28th head coach in Tulsa basketball history.
Phillips, 54, served this past season as Tulsa's associate head coach under Buzz Peterson. Previously, he was an assistant coach for three years on Bill Self's coaching staff.
"It became increasingly obvious as we continued the coaching search that the right person for this position was already on campus," said MacLeod. "John Phillips is well-respected by the campus community, Tulsa community, in the state of Oklahoma and by our basketball players. We believe he is the right person to continue to build upon the success of the Tulsa basketball program"
Over the past four seasons, Phillips has been an integral part of the most successful time in Golden Hurricane basketball history. Tulsa has posted a four-year record of 100-38, won the Western Athletic Conference regular season title once (1999-00), shared the WAC Championship once (1998-99), advanced to the 2000 NCAA Tournament South Regional finals and won the 2001 National Invitation Tournament Championship.
The 2000 team compiled the best record in school history with a 32-5 mark, and advanced to the NCAA's Elite Eight. This past season, the Hurricane won the third most games in school history with a 26-11 record and NIT Championship. In the last two years, Phillips has helped coach the Hurricane to a 58-16 record for a .784 winning percentage.
"I'm excited that Dr. Lawless and Judy MacLeod has given me this opportunity. I look forward to being the head basketball coach at one of the premier Universities in America," said Phillips. "I've thoroughly enjoyed the success that these players have brought to us the last few years, and together we'll work extremely hard to continue the winning tradition that has made Tulsa among college basketball's best."
Phillips has coached in both the collegiate and prep ranks in Oklahoma. He has coached seven years on the collegiate level and spent 17 seasons as a high school head coach.
Phillips is in his second tour of duty with the Hurricane basketball program. His first collegiate coaching experience came in 1977 as a graduate assistant coach at TU under Jim King. He served two seasons (1988-90) as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under Leonard Hamilton. While there, OSU earned invitations to the NIT postseason tournament both years.
In 17 seasons in the high school ranks, Phillips compiled an overall 273-159 for a .632 winning percentage and averaged 16 wins per season. His teams made seven state tournament appearances, won one state title and placed as state runner-up twice.
Prior to returning to the collegiate ranks in 1997, Phillips was the varsity basketball coach at Broken Arrow High School for four seasons and registered an overall 59-40 record at the school. His 1996-97 team, unranked at the start of the season, posted a 23-7 record and won the Class 6A regional title, area crown and state championship.
Before taking over the coaching reigns at Broken Arrow, Phillips coached three seasons at Stillwater High School (1990-93). His previous head coaching stops included Tulsa's Edison High School (1983-88), Bartlesville High School (1981-83) and Mannford High School (1979-81).
At Edison, Phillips coached future University of Kansas standouts Kevin Pritchard and Archie Marshall. His teams went to four straight Class 4A state semifinals, while posting a 128-35 record (.785) in six seasons. During his high school coaching career, Phillips coached more than 20 prep players who went onto play collegiately.
Phillips earned his bachelor's degree in social studies from Oklahoma State University in 1973. He received his master's degree in education from Tulsa in 1978. He and his wife, Leah, have two children: son Duggan and daughter Kelly, both currently attending TU.
The John Phillips Capsule
Personal
Full Name: John Thomas Phillips
Birthdate: February 6, 1947
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Family: wife Leah; two children, son Duggan (25) and daughter Kelly (21)
Education
High School: Tulsa McLain (Okla.) High School, 1965
College: Oklahoma State (bachelor's degree in social studies, 1973); Tulsa (master's degree in education, 1978)
Playing Experience
High School: Played prep basketball at Tulsa's McLain High School for three years. . . earned all-city and all-state special recognition as a senior
College: Played one year at Paris (Texas) Junior College and was an all-conference performer in 1966.
Coaching Experience
High School: In 17 seasons in the high school ranks, he compiled an overall 273-159 for a .632 winning percentage and averaged 16 wins per season . . . his teams made seven state tournament appearances, won one state title and placed as state runner-up twice . . .
* Head Coach at Broken Arrow High School (1990-97) where he compiled a 59-40 four-year record; won the 1997 Class 6A state title with a 23-7 record.
* Head Coach at Stillwater High School (1990-93) where he compiled a three-year record of 36-37 and led the team to the 1993 state tournament.
* Head Coach at Tulsa's Edison High School (1983-88) where he registered a 128-35 record and was state runner-up twice; was named district coach of the year twice, metro coach of the year once and region 7 coach of the year once.
* Head Coach at Bartlesville High School (1981-83) for two seasons where he posted a 19-27 record.
* Head Coach at Mannford High School (1979-81) for two years; compiled a 31-20 record and was named the Cimarron Conference Coach of the Year once.
* Assistant coach for Broken Arrow Public Schools (1973-77).
College: Was a graduate assistant coach at The University of Tulsa for the 1977-78 season under Jim King . . . was an assistant basketball coach at Oklahoma State University (1988-90) for two seasons under Leonard Hamilton; was a part of two NIT quarterfinalist teams . . . served as an assistant coach at The University of Tulsa for three years (1997-2000) and was the associate head coach for one year (2000-01); teams compiled a four-year mark of 100-38 during his time on the coaching staff, including a school-best 32-5 mark in 1999-2000 and an NIT Championship and 26-11 record in 2000-01.