Sarasota High football coach Josh Phillips steps down for college coaching position

SARASOTA − Josh Phillips is returning to the site where his college coaching career began.

Phillips stepped down as the Sarasota High football coach to take a coaching position at  Wagner College, a Division 1-AA/FCS school in Staten Island, New York.

Phillips first coached college football at Wagner during the 2007-08 seasons.

Walter Hameline, who was Wagner’s coach when Phillips was an assistant, is the school’s Vice President of Athletics.

Phillips also knew current Seahawks football coach Tom Masella, who was the head coach at Fordham before moving to Wagner.

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During a recent trip to the school with his wife Traci, Phillips visited with Hameline.

“I hadn’t seen him in years,” Phillips said.

Hameline took Phillips on a tour of the Seahawks’ new football facility. Before long they ran into Masella.

“Coach Masella kinda made a joke, ‘If you’re interested in coming back, I’d love to have you.’ I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ ” Phillips said.

The two talked in more detail a few days later, and Masella offered Phillips a job as defensive backs coach.

Experienced in coaching many of the positions on the football field, Phillips was a defensive back in college, for the Houston Texans, in NFL Europe and in the Arena League.

Plus, it was the same position he coached at Wagner during his first stint.

“It’s like coming full circle,” Phillips said. “I’m getting a chance to pursue a dream I’ve always had. I didn’t necessarily think it would come along again. I kinda resigned myself that I’m going to coach high school football for the rest of my life.”

The 44-year-old Phillips coached the Sailors for one season, going 1-9 with the lone win coming against Southeast High. He also had coaching stints locally at Bradenton Christian School and Manatee High, where he was the defensive coordinator for one season before landing the Sarasota High job.

“The hardest part of it was walking away from the kids,” said Phillips, who teaches career research and decision making and weightlifting. “It’s really hard. You form relationships. I care about them. I love them. I want to see the program grow. I want to see them succeed. That’s the hard part. “Part of me would like to stay and prove I can turn it around. I’m a competitor.”

Phillips’ final day at Sarasota High is Jan. 22. His first day at Wagner is Jan. 25.

“I do feel like this is an opportunity I can’t pass up and I need to take at this point in my life,” said Phillips, who will make a return to the Sunshine State when Wagner visits Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. “I’ve got a window of time where I can try to do this again. I have an opportunity to do football fulltime and do something I love.”

As for Sarasota High, new director of athletics BJ Ivey will get to work with Principal Ryan Chase on hiring a new coach.

“We’re going to try to move on this really quick,” Ivey said. “There’s a sense of urgency. I understand how this works. You need to get someone in quick and give them time. They need to put a staff together and start building a culture.

“He is very, very eager to get this rolling.”

The Sailors will be looking for their second coach in as many seasons. Phillips replaced Brody Wiseman, who agreed to part ways at Sarasota after three seasons as head coach before Phillips was hired this past season.

In a press release sent by Sarasota High: Sarasota High School accepted the resignation of Head Football Coach Josh Phillips today as he has accepted a college football coaching position; we greatly appreciate his dedication to the Sailor Football program and wish him the best in his next endeavor. Sarasota High School is beginning its search for a new Head Football Coach for the Sailor Football team. “Sarasota High School is a premier destination for athletics, and I look forward to our next head coach building upon our tradition of excellence,” said Principal Ryan Chase. Any interested candidates should submit their interest and resume to BJ Ivey, Athletic Director, at William.Ivey@sarasotacountyschools.net.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota High football coach Josh Phillips leaves for college position