Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

St. Marys turns to Phillips

By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

The St. Marys Board of Education approved the hiring of Greg Phillips to be the Roughriders' new high school varsity football coach. Phillips has 25 years of coaching experience, the last five as a head coach at Oak Hill.

ST. MARYS - Greg Phillips was well aware of the tradition of the St. Marys football program long before he applied for the head coaching position.
Approved by the St. Marys Board of Education on Tuesday night, Phillips brings 25 years of coaching experience - five as a head coach - to a program that will be looking to bounce back from a rough 2010 season (1-9).
"I don't know if you want to call it fate or anything as bizarre as that, but I remember being at the state championship games when coach Baughman won three state championships," said Phillips, referring to the Skip Baughman teams of 1990, 1992 and 1993. "I saw them play and I always remembered that: the crowd support, the visual of things like that. I knew that this is a very strong traditional league. Football is important to this community, athletics in generally important to this part of the state."
Phillips' goal, when asked during the interview for the job, was quick to the point.
I came to the board (for the interview) and I think the third question they asked was what brought me to St. Marys and I told them I want to win a state championship. ... I think this community wants to get back to that level. We're going to try to see if we can do that.
"The first question (of the interview) was to draw up my favorite play. I knew right away this is a football place."
One thing that Phillips brings with him is the reputation of turning around a program.
Phillips, who had assistant coaching stops at places like Jackson, Lancaster, Circleville, Hilliard Darby and Bishop Ready among other schools, spent the last five seasons at Oak Hill High School in Jackson County. Oak Hill was a team that did not win a game the year before Phillips arrived. After going 3-7 in his first season in 2006, the Oaks turned their fortunes around, going 5-5 in 2007 and 7-3 in 2008.
In 2009, the Oaks went undefeated in the regular season and made their first-ever trip to the playoffs, earning Phillips Division V State co-Coach of the Year.
After going 9-1 in the regular season in 2010, Oak Hill advanced to the Division V Region 19 final for the first time in school history, losing to Fredericktown 28-21. Fredericktown went on to lose to Coldwater in the state semifinals.
Phillips sees a difference in what he did at Oak Hill in what his mission is at St. Marys.
"I think the difference here (from Oak Hill) is that you have a strong tradition here," said Phillips. "I don't think it's been that far that the kids remember seeing those Western Buckeye League (titles). When I came to Oak Hill, they were 0-10 the year before I got there and a combined 4-26 the three years before I got there. Even before that they were hovering around the .500 mark. They had never been to the playoffs. Never won a league championship (since changing leagues 20 years before). Really, it was getting in the minds of the kids. ... I'm not sure that's the problem here."
Phillips' strategy on offense is one of a traditional style.
"I really believe in running a system on offense and defense," said Phillips. "Anybody can get on the internet and grab a bunch of plays and throw them together. I think (if) you have a system you believe in, you've got answers to things opponents are going to do to you and adjustments that you can make because that's part of your system and your kids understand the whole thing.
"I know the Wing-T was big here. I'm an I (formation) guy. We're going to run the football. We're going to be a physical, hard-nosed running team, but the nice thing is I think we have a real nice play-action and boot package. I had a quarterback the last two years throw 46 touchdowns (to just) five interceptions. We were never in the shotgun, we were never in a spread-type offense. We were in the I. We ran some double-wing, Wing-T stuff; ran jet rocket sweep and counters out of that and I'm sure they're familiar with that here. I would call it a real physical, hard-nosed brand of football. I think they're used to playing here."
Phillips, who will meet with St. Marys' team members on Friday and be introduced to the community over the weekend, says his expectation for the team will be to work hard.
"I'll tell the kids Friday that I play favorites. I really do," said Phillips. "I play favorites to the kids that do things right and work hard. I think that's the way I was brought up. Southeastern Ohio, where I am from (Wellston) is really hit hard economically right now. Used to be coal mines and steel, and that stuff (is) gone now, like Northeastern Ohio. It's a pretty tough environment. I value hard work and discipline out of the kids. I want to see a physical, tough football team on the field."
Additional online stories on this date
$800,000 Mercer County typically receives from state will likely disappear
Revenue is estimated to be $1 million less this year for Mercer County, mostly due to a huge loss in state funds.
But the financial outlook isn't all "gloom and doom," county commissioner Bob Nuding told elected and appointed officials during a meeting at the county courthouse Tuesday. [More]
A finance meeting Tuesday with top Mercer County officials ended in a debate about employee raises.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Sheriff Jeff [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
St. MARYS - An Auglaize County bridge engineer says the High Street bridge in St. Marys does not need replaced, and a simple upgrade to the structure could spare the nearby historic Reservoir Mill some residents are trying to save.
Mercer County elections
A lack of valid signatures on his petition means former Celina city councilman Ron Hammons' name will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot in May.
NEW BREMEN - Village council members put their final stamp of approval on the proposed Kuest Ditch project Tuesday night by accepting a bid well below the engineering estimate.
ROCKFORD - Parkway is among most Ohio school districts anticipating less state funding.
Superintendent Greg Puthoff met with school staff recently to discuss ways to cut costs, which may include staff reductions.
Seventeen Auglaize County bridges are scheduled to be updated this year, including several in the Minster, New Bremen and New Knoxville area.
Count
A Celina woman was injured early this morning while trying to escape her burning home.
Betty Feliciano, 1460 James Drive, summoned the Celina Fire Department at 4:33 a.m. to report her home was filled with heavy smoke.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Schools board of education approved plans to improve Skip Baughman Stadium while the new athletic complex is built.
Impr
COLDWATER - Coldwater Exempted Village Schools Treasurer Sherry Shaffer told school board members Tuesday there has been talk at the state level of eliminating the "transitional aid guarantee" money.
FORT RECOVERY - District officials are planning a sea change in the way they provide technology to students and staff at the high school, according to superintendent Pat Niekamp and technology director John Jutte.
Developers: Celina low on available sites
CELINA - Even though Celina has several vacant buildings, development experts say there are still few options for potential buyers.
"In one way, we
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Marys hit big free throws down the stretch while keeping Ottawa-Glandorf scoreless for the final six minutes of the game to stay undefeated in Western Buckeye League girls basketball play with a 43-30 win on Tuesday night at Murotech Court.
COLDWATER - For Veronica Bruns, Bowling Green State University made sense athletically and academically.
The Coldwater multi-sports standout will concentrate on running after signing her national letter-of-intent with BGSU on Wednesday.
CONVOY - For the second time in a 24-hour time span, the Celina girls' basketball team was in need of a big play at the end of a game to pull out a win.