Professional Football Coach. Phillips was best known for serving as head coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers for six seasons and for his trademark white Stetson cowboy hat which he wore during most games. Phillips played football at Lamar Junior College before the onset of World War II (WWII). Subsequent to the attack on Pearl Harbor Phillips joined the U.S. Marine Corps, participating in amphibious warfare as a member of the Marine Raiders in the Pacific. When the conflict was over, he returned home and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State College with a degree in education. Starting in the late 1950s, he coached football at various high schools and colleges, including Texas A&M University where he worked under future College Football Hall of Famer Bear Bryant. Phillips' first job in the pros came as an assistant coach for Sid Gillman of the San Diego Chargers in 1967. He served in that capacity for several seasons and then as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, but reunited with Gillman in 1974 under the employ of the Houston Oilers. After Gillman's resignation following that season, Phillips became Houston's head coach and general manager. Under his leadership, the Oilers reached consecutive AFC Championship Games in 1978 and 1979, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in both instances. The winningest coach in Oilers history, he left to head the New Orleans Saints in 1981. He did not achieve the same success in New Orleans as he had in Houston and retired mid-season in 1985, making way for his son Wade to step in as interim head coach. He later spent time as a television and radio analyst for Oilers' games. He passed away in 2013 at his 410 acre ranch in Goliad, Texas.
Professional Football Coach. Phillips was best known for serving as head coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers for six seasons and for his trademark white Stetson cowboy hat which he wore during most games. Phillips played football at Lamar Junior College before the onset of World War II (WWII). Subsequent to the attack on Pearl Harbor Phillips joined the U.S. Marine Corps, participating in amphibious warfare as a member of the Marine Raiders in the Pacific. When the conflict was over, he returned home and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State College with a degree in education. Starting in the late 1950s, he coached football at various high schools and colleges, including Texas A&M University where he worked under future College Football Hall of Famer Bear Bryant. Phillips' first job in the pros came as an assistant coach for Sid Gillman of the San Diego Chargers in 1967. He served in that capacity for several seasons and then as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, but reunited with Gillman in 1974 under the employ of the Houston Oilers. After Gillman's resignation following that season, Phillips became Houston's head coach and general manager. Under his leadership, the Oilers reached consecutive AFC Championship Games in 1978 and 1979, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in both instances. The winningest coach in Oilers history, he left to head the New Orleans Saints in 1981. He did not achieve the same success in New Orleans as he had in Houston and retired mid-season in 1985, making way for his son Wade to step in as interim head coach. He later spent time as a television and radio analyst for Oilers' games. He passed away in 2013 at his 410 acre ranch in Goliad, Texas.
Bio by: Kurt's Historic Sites
Inscription
PVT US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR II
Family Members
Advertisement
