December 26, 2001
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Joker Phillips, one of the most highly respected up and coming coaches in the college game, has been named assistant football coach at the University of South Carolina. USC head coach Lou Holtz made the announcement Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., as the Gamecocks prepare for the 2002 Outback Bowl on Jan. 2. Phillips will coach USC’s wide receivers, with current Gamecock wide receiver coach Todd Fitch now handling the running backs. The opening came about when USC assistant Buddy Pough was named the head coach at South Carolina State on Dec. 11.
Phillips, who has 14 years of collegiate coaching experience, including nine seasons in the Southeastern Conference, comes to South Carolina from Notre Dame, where he coached the wide receivers in 2001. Phillips spent nine years as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Kentucky, where he coached the wide receivers from 1991-96, was assistant recruiting coordinator in 1991 and was a graduate assistant from 1988-89. During his tenure with the Wildcats, he coached Neal Clark, who set a then-UK single season receiving record and Kio Sanford, who set three SEC single-season marks for kickoff returns. Phillips worked under coach Jerry Claiborne in 1988-89 and Bill Curry from 1990-96. Prior to his one season at Notre Dame, Phillips was wide receivers coach at Minnesota for two years (1999-2000). He also coached two years at the University of Cincinnati (1997-98). Phillips spent part of three years working as an intern with the NFL’s Washington Redskins and also did an internship with the 1998 NFC champion Atlanta Falcons.
A four-year letterwinner at Kentucky, Phillips helped lead the Wildcats to back-to-back Hall of Fame Bowls (1983-84). He finished his career ranked seventh on UK’s all-time career receiving list. He later went on to play in the NFL with the Redskins and then in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts.
“Joker Phillips is a class individual who comes to us very highly recommended,” said USC head coach Lou Holtz. “He is going to be an outstanding addition to our staff. He is a true role model for our players and he possesses a well-rounded knowledge of the game.”
“I’m excited about the opportunity of coaching at the University of South Carolina and being able to work with one of the game’s best coaches ever in Coach Holtz,” said Phillips. “There is a great deal of excitement surrounding the South Carolina program and I can’t wait to be a part of it. My roots are in the SEC and I’m looking forward to coaching once again in the best conference in the country.”
Born May 12, 1963 in Franklin, Ky., is married to the former Leslie Stamatis. He is in Tampa this week observing and learning the Gamecock system and their personnel.
