Tag: Longo

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo is shown during the second quarter of their game Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Purdue 52-6.

Sam Houston tabs Phil Longo as new head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sam Houston hired Phil Longo as head coach on Wednesday, tabbing a person who served as the school’s offensive coordinator from 2014-16.

Longo was Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator this season until being fired on Nov. 17, one day after the Badgers fell 16-13 to top-ranked Oregon.

Longo replaces K.C. Keeler, who recently departed to become the coach at Temple.

“My family and I feel that a part of us has never left Sam Houston and it feels like we are returning home,” Longo said in a news release announcing his hire. “I am elated and honored to become the next head football coach at Sam Houston State University.”

Sam Houston is completing its second season at the FBS level. The Bearkats (9-3) will face Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl on Thursday.

Longo, 56, also had stints as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2017-18) and North Carolina (2019-22) during his career. He was the OC under Keeler in his previous stint with the Bearkats.

“Throughout each step of this process, Phil Longo kept rising to the top as the best choice to lead our football program,” Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said in the news release. “He checked all the boxes we were looking for from knowing our program and his success as our offensive coordinator. His growth from his time at Ole Miss, North Carolina and Wisconsin were also key factors in our decision. In addition, he has a high level of support from our on-campus leaders and overwhelming positive input from donors and fans.”

–Field Level Media

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo is shown during the second quarter of their game Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Purdue 52-6.

Wisconsin fires offensive coordinator Phil Longo

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wisconsin fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo on Sunday, one day after a 16-13 home loss to top-ranked Oregon.

The Badgers are tied for 97th nationally in scoring offense at 23.9 points per game and 91st in total offense (363.1 yards per game).

“This morning, I informed Phil Longo that he will no longer serve as our offensive coordinator,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said in a news release. “After continuing to evaluate the program, I decided we are not where we need to be and believe this decision is in the best interest of the team.

“I appreciate Phil’s commitment to helping us build our program over the past two seasons and wish him well moving forward. This team still has a lot in front of us and I am committed to doing everything we can to close out this season with success.”

Longo, 56, served as offensive coordinator for 23 games after spending four seasons (2019-22) in the same position at North Carolina. He also spent two seasons (2017-18) as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss.

Fickell didn’t immediately announce a new offensive coordinator.

Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) has averaged just 12 points during a three-game slide. The Badgers have scored 13 of fewer points four times this season.

Starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Week 3 and Braedyn Locke has battled consistency issues.

Locke passed for 359 yards in a 52-6 rout of Purdue but passed for just 96 yards against Oregon. Two weeks earlier, he threw for 137 yards in a 42-10 loss to Iowa before the team’s bye.

Overall, Locke has completed 55.1 percent of his passes for 1,514 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Badgers visit Nebraska on Saturday.

–Field Level Media