For Immediate Release
Feb. 5, 2007
Phillips interim tag removed as Huntingdon women's basketball coach
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon College has announced that director of athletics Buzz Phillips will take over the women’s basketball head coach position on a permanent basis after serving as interim head coach since late November.
Phillips took over the women’s program during each of the past two seasons, replacing Houston Kennedy and Scott Phillips, who each resigned.
“Coach Phillips is not only an excellent athletic director, but also a gifted coach," said President J. Cameron West. "I'm thrilled that he has agreed to serve as coach of our women's basketball program as we move forward. His years of experience, strength of purpose, work ethic and heart are without equal. I know our team will flourish under his direction.”
During the past two seasons, Phillips has led the Lady Hawks to a 15-16 overall record, including an 11-9 mark in Great South Athletic Conference play.
“I thought about this decision long and hard and after numerous discussions with my family, I decided that I would approach our administration about taking over the program on a permanent basis,”
Phillips said. “There are several reasons for choosing to continue as coach. One is the stability of the program and the other is for consistency for a hard-working group of young ladies, who I know can be successful.”
In the 31 games under Phillips, the Lady Hawks have averaged 65.1 points per game, while allowing only 61.7 per contest. Huntingdon has also converted nearly 37 percent of its shots from the floor and owns a 2.6 advantage in rebounding margin.
“This is a great group of young ladies that comprise our team,” Phillips continued. “I look forward to continuing my coaching relationship with each of them, as well as the new recruits who will enter our basketball program.”
The Lady Hawks are currently 6-14 on the season, but have been without the services of 2005-06 GSAC Player of the Year, Tiffany Jordan, who went down with a season-ending injury early in the second game of the year.
“I am very fortunate that Andrea Ward has agreed to stay on in her capacity as assistant coach and I will greatly depend on her,” said Phillips. “I know the job as Athletic Director and women’s basketball head coach will be a challenge at times, but with my athletic department staff and the great group of coaches within the department, I feel that I can be successful. I guess I still have coaching in my blood, because each time I take the floor, both in a game and in practice, my adrenaline is pumping.”
Courtesy of Huntingdon College Sports Information Department
