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University of Tulsa Athletics Site

Tulsa's Phillips Announces Resignation as Head Basketball Coach

Assistant Coach Alvin Williamson assumes interim position

Dec. 25, 2004

Tulsa, Oklahoma - University of Tulsa Head Basketball Coach John Phillips announced his resignation today, effective immediately.

Phillips informed Athletics Director Judy MacLeod earlier today of his decision, and met with his team on Christmas night. MacLeod announced that Alvin "Pooh" Williamson has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2004-05 season. Phillips has been extended an offer to remain as assistant athletics director.

"I want to say thanks to The University of Tulsa and Judy MacLeod for giving me the opportunity to coach at TU. The last eight years have been so enjoyable for me and my family. The last couple of months have been very difficult for me, my family and the players. Sometimes, change can bring about growth. My hope is that all TU fans will support the players through the remainder of the season and we will all witness tremendous progress," said Phillips.

"I also would like to thank the people of the city of Tulsa who have supported Leah and me. We have achieved lifelong friendships and we are both so grateful for those friendships. God Bless every one and have a great holiday season."

Phillips had a successful tenure at Tulsa, both as an assistant coach and head coach. In three-plus seasons as head coach, Phillips compiled an overall record of 61-42 for a .592 winning percentage.

Phillips ranks 10th on the career victories list and became only the second coach in school history to win 50 games in his first two seasons. Phillips was only the fourth coach in school history to lead his team to back-to-back 20 wins seasons in the first two years as head coach. He led the Hurricane to a 27-7 overall mark in the 2001-02 season and 23-10 in his second year.

During his seven-plus seasons on the coaching staff, Tulsa posted a record of 161-78 (.674), won the Western Athletic Conference regular season title once (1999-00), shared the WAC Championship twice (1998-99 and 2001-02) and won the WAC Tournament Championship once (2003). The Hurricane made four NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the second round all four years and to the 2000 NCAA South Regional finals, and won the 2001 NIT Championship.

A longtime Oklahoman, Phillips became Tulsa's 28th head basketball coach on April 9, 2001.

"Coach Phillips is truly one of the most honest, loyal and genuine people that I know. He has been an extremely valued member of our athletic family and a good friend. I look forward to him continuing at TU as an assistant athletics director," said MacLeod, who is out of town visiting family for the Christmas holiday.

"These 13 young men must continue to work hard every day to improve as a basketball team. I trust that the loyal fans of TU basketball will rally around these players and coaches and demonstrate the insurmountable support that they have shown in the past that put Tulsa basketball in the national spotlight," added MacLeod.

"I have confidence that our coaching staff will continue to work hard and keep this team focused on a very competitive conference schedule that lies ahead. We have 21 games remaining in the regular season so there are many goals that can still be achieved," said MacLeod. "As a coach, Pooh Williamson has shown the same dedication, competitiveness and leadership qualities that made him a great player at Tulsa."

Williamson, 31, is in his fourth season on the Tulsa coaching staff. A 1996 graduate of Tulsa, Williamson was the point guard that led Tubby Smith-coached Hurricane teams to consecutive NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" appearances in 1994 and 1995.

Prior to returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach, Williamson coached one year at Tulane University (2000-01). Before that, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State (1998-00) and two seasons at Washington State (1996-98).

"Obviously, this is not the way that I envisioned becoming a head coach. Coach Phillips has been very influential in my coaching career," said Williamson. "As coaches we're going to put our entire energy into this basketball team, and our next opponent. Oklahoma is a tremendous basketball team that has shown this year that they are among the nation's very best. We have a huge task in front of us on Tuesday, then we begin play in the Western Athletic Conference two days later."

"Coach Phillips has helped me progress as a basketball coach, and he has helped these basketball players grow as young men and players," added Williamson. "We will do everything possible to continue instilling the values of hard work, teamwork and unity. We have a great basketball tradition to uphold at Tulsa, and we will work diligently to keep it."

Tulsa has a 2-5 record on the season and plays Oklahoma in the All-College Tournament on Tuesday, December 28, in Oklahoma City, Okla.