Todd Phillips promoted to head coach at Utah Valley
Utah Valley announced on Thursday the promotion of associate head coach Todd Phillips into the head coaching role. Phillips has been on staff for the last four seasons supporting previous head coach Mark Madsen, who departed last month to take over at California.
“Todd Phillips was the evident choice to lead our program with the upward trajectory he has helped build,” AD Dr. Jared Sumsion said in a statement. “Todd has a tremendous basketball mind who understands the game at its deepest level. His recruiting network in this region and beyond is second to none. He has a tremendous ability to develop players and build a synergistic team environment. With two WAC championships and a deep NIT run, his track record at Utah Valley already speaks for itself.”
Prior to UVU, Phillips spent eight seasons as the head coach at Salt Lake Community College (UT). He went 205-58 overall and in 2016 his team won the NJCAA National Championship. Phillips is originally from Boise, Idaho and played collegiately at Snow College (UT) and Lewis-Clark State (ID).
“I’m incredibly honored and very appreciative of President Tuminez, Jared Sumsion, and the search committee for the opportunity to be the head coach at Utah Valley,” said Phillips. “I love Utah Valley. I love the community and am excited to build on the success that we have already achieved. I want to build a legacy here. We’re going to continue to win, and we are going to win championships.”
The Wolverines are coming off their second WAC title in the last three years. The University was a junior college before 2003 so the basketball program is still relatively new, having not yet reached the NCAA Tournament. Madsen‘s 2022-23 squad had to settle for an NIT bid after getting upset in the WAC Tournament, but ended up reaching the NIT semifinals in Las Vegas.
Phillips having been part of the recent success in Orem should give fans hope that the winning will continue rolling for years to come. Madsen was close, but perhaps it will be Phillips who finally takes Utah Valley to the Big Dance.
credit to Utah Valley Athletics for the image
