University of South Alabama Athletics

Brad Phillips joined the Jaguar program for the 2019 season after spending the previous eight seasons at Troy. During his tenure with the Trojans, Phillips coached two Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year recipients, one Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and one Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.

In his first year with the Jaguar program, right-hander Zach Greene broke the school’s single-season saves record with 13 saves in 2019. Greene was named Second-Team All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association/Rawlings, and was Third-Team All-America by D1Baseball. Green earned First-Team All-Central Region and First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors before being selected in the eighth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees.

The Jaguar pitching staff led the Sun Belt in fewest earned runs allowed (264), and ranked second in the league in saves (17), fewest runs (304) and fewest hits (485) allowed. Right-hander Drake Nightengale led the Sun Belt in opposing batting average (.196), and ranked fourth in ERA (3.52) and strikeouts (91). He anked 12th in the league in strikeouts (47) and opposing batting average (.239) in Sun Belt contests, and was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week on three occasions. Nightengale signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Mets following the 2020 season. 

In 2018 under Phillips, the Troy pitching staff led the Sun Belt in ERA (3.90), runs allowed (280), earned runs allowed (241) and innings pitched, ranked second in the league in strikeouts (524), saves (15), opposing batting average (.248) and wins (42). Trojan pitchers combined for six shutouts in 2018, which ranked 20th nationally.

In conference contests in 2018, Troy led the league in ERA (3.53), runs allowed (121) and earned runs allowed (104), ranked second in wins (19) and fewest wild pitches (16), and third in sacrifice flies allowed (11) and fewest hit batters (23). Phillips helped guide the Trojans to 42 wins and an NCAA Regional appearance in ‘18 at the Athens (Ga.) Regional.

The Trojans ranked second in the Sun Belt in saves (18) and walks allowed (191) in 2017, and third in earned runs allowed (234). Right-hander Andrew Crane led the Sun Belt in ERA (1.47), while right-handed closer Marc Skinner ranked second in the league in saves (12).

The Troy pitching staff ranked third in the SBC in ERA (3.79) in 2016, earning Phillips the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award. In 2013, the Trojan pitching staff ranked fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (8.6), and posted a staff ERA of 3.82, which was the second-best mark in the Sun Belt and over two runs better than the previous season. 

Phillips joined the Troy staff in 2010 after serving as head coach at both Niceville (Fla.) High School and Charles Henderson (Ala.) High School, and helped lead CHHS to four straight Alabama High School Athletic Association playoff appearances, including a 5A state championship appearance in 2008, and was named the AHSAA Class 5A Region 2 Coach of the Year four consecutive times as well as the Dothan Eagle Super 12 Coach of the Year in 2008. He helped NHS to back-to-back playoff appearances during his tenure there, and was named the 2009 Northwest Daily News Coach of the Year. 

The Hazel Green, Alabama, native played collegiately at Gadsden State (Ala.) Community College and the University of Montevallo before earning his degree at Troy in 2004. He also served as a volunteer assistant at Troy in the 2003-04 seasons.

Phillips is married to the former Peyton Marsh of Madison, Alabama. The couple, has one daughter, Piper Belle, and one son, Scout.