Houston Sports - Bum Phillips

Bum Phillips

Born: September 29, 1923

Sport: Football (82-77 record as an NFL head coach)

Today is December 7, and although the generation that experienced the attack on Pearl Harbor has largely passed into the pages of history, the United States swore never to forget the events of that day in late 1941.  You can read my own blog post here on the history and geographic impact on that fateful day: The Attack on Pearl Harbor.  There is a Houston sports tie to World War II that certainly merits the spotlight, as a figure who has been identified with the city's most memorable and beloved eras was impacted by the global events and made a decision that changed the course of his life.  The fact that both professional franchises that he coached, as well as the team in the city he called home, all found their way to wins today also makes Bum Phillips a great choice for this week's focus.  Let's take a look at the most Texan coach in Houston history.

The Astrodome during Bum Phillips' time with the Oilers

Born near the Louisiana state line in the town of Orange, Texas, Oail Phillips, Jr. was born to two parents who both came from rancher backgrounds - Oail, Sr. (known as "Flop") and Naomi.  As such, the young man frequently helped out his grandfather on his nearby ranch.  With a little sister that had some difficulty pronouncing "brother", the name "Bum" soon became how the young man was known, and it stuck with him for life.  The Phillips family moved to nearby Beaumont where Bum attended French High School, but Flop was against the idea of his son playing football due to the risk of injury.  Bum decided to remain local to attend Lamar Junior College (now University) where he finally made it onto the football field, but when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor he waited until the day after his 19th birthday to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.  Bum was sent to California's Camp Pendleton and was trained as a member of the elite Marine Raider special operations group.  By June 30, 1943, his regiment landed in the Solomon Islands and engaged in the Battle of Wickham Harbor, which was a victory but a costly one that affected Phillips.  Once the fighting ended in 1945 he was honorably discharged and returned to Texas to get married and finish his degree, first at Lamar and then at Stephen F. Austin State College.  Lettering in football his final two years, Bum graduated with a degree in education in 1949 and turned his attention to ranching and rodeos.  But in was in 1951 that his career and life found the path that would make his name famous throughout Texas.

In 1951, Nederland High School hired Bum Phillips to be the head coach of their football program.  He showed a knack for the job and during a 50-game winning streak his Bulldogs team was able to assert dominance in their cross-town rivalry against Port Neches - Groves High School, despite that school reaching the state finals in 1954 and winning the championship in 1955.  Nederland copied the success, reaching the 3A title game in 1956, which turned out to be Phillips' final year, before winning the only championship in school history in 1957 just after his departure.  Bum had taken a job as an assistant coach for Texas A&M that year, his first experience in coaching at the college level under the legendary Bear Bryant, but one year later he returned to the high school level at Jacksonville High School, reportedly preferring to remain in Texas rather than stay with Bryant who had accepted the head coaching job at Alabama.  After one year he left the Piney Woods of east Texas for the Panhandle, coaching Amarillo High School for three seasons.  In 1962 Phillips once again tried his hand at the college game, heading to El Paso to be the head coach of Texas Western University.  It was not a successful attempt, however, and after a losing season he announced he would step down.  Having moved so often and being far from home, the chance to come back to the Golden Triangle of southeast Texas must have seemed like an opportunity that was too good to pass up, even if it was to coach on the other side of the rivalry between Nederland and Port Neches - Groves.  The fact that he actually earned more than he had out in west Texas was just a bonus, and Phillips told his family he intended for PNG to be his final coaching stop.  But he was wrong because another great opportunity presented itself that combined his loves of football and family - in 1965 the University of Houston gave Bum Phillips the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator and continue coaching his own son, Wade Phillips, who had starred on his dad's high school teams the prior two seasons.  Young Wade made the Cougars team during his sophomore season in 1966, playing under his father's tutelage, and remained a starting linebacker for the duration of his college career.  Bum, however, had one more level of coaching that he had left to master.

Prior to the 1967 season the head coach of the San Diego Chargers of the AFL, Sid Gillman, wanted to bring in a defensive-minded coach onto his staff who had success at the college level, and Bum Phillips turned out to be the right man for the job.  Calling on two of the big coaching names of the day, Texas' Darrell Royal and Arkansas' Frank Broyles, they both recommended Phillips for the way he coached as well as related to his players.  During his first tenure in the pro ranks he was known for his folksy way of speaking, refusal to publicly berate or criticize the men on his team, and insistence that what he'd learned in the military was true - when you depended on another person on the field or in the foxhole, the length of hair or color of skin didn't matter at all.  These traits were all rare and notable during the turbulent 60s, but it earned Phillips the admiration of fans and players alike.  Unfortunately, Gillman couldn't turn the Chargers into a winning team and when he was fired Phillips once again landed on his feet in the college game, this time as the defensive coordinator at Southern Methodist University.  The staff had a short leash, however, so despite having a highly-ranked defense and a 7-4 record the Mustangs did not reach a bowl game, and Phillips and several other coaches were fired.  Oklahoma State hired Phillips as an assistant coach, but they had an even more mediocre season before he opted to take the opportunity to follow his former boss back to the pro ranks in Houston.  Sid Gillman had become the head coach and general manager of the NFL's Houston Oilers, and he once again selected Bum to run his defense.  One season later, Gillman intended to step down as head coach but retain control of the team as general manager.  Bum sidestepped his boss by going straight to the team owner, Bud Adams, who adjusted the contract for Phillips to not be subject to Gillman's interference.  Within weeks, Gillman left the team and Phillips was left as both head coach and general manager.

In six years with the Houston Oilers, Bum Phillips became the most successful head coach in their history.  He amassed a record of 55-35 with four postseason victories, despite playing in what was considered the toughest division in the NFL and having to play the juggernaut Pittsburgh Steelers six times in two years.  He was definitely a player's coach, having very few rules, treating his players like they were grown men, and opening socializing with them.  At the same time, fans gravitated towards the exciting players such as Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Earl Campbell, ushering in the "Love Ya' Blue" era of Houston sports.  The iconic cowboy hat of Bum Phillips, always present along the sideline unless the team was playing indoors, fit perfectly with the city's persona.  Eventually, however, the franchise pointed the blame at Phillips for not being able to make it to the Super Bowl and he was fired on New Year's Even, 1980.  The New Orleans Saints were a dreadful franchise that had never made a trip to the postseason, so they tried to catch lightning in a bottle by hiring Phillips who completely revamped their defense as well as their scouting and draft processes.  During five seasons, however, their record was a dismal 27-42 and Phillips resigned with four games remaining in the 1985 season.  At the time of his retirement, Bum had managed to stay employed as a head coach, assistant coach, or defensive coordinator every single season for 35 years.  He is credited with inventing the 3-4 defense, utilizing three linemen and four linebackers, and has a coaching tree that includes his son Wade, who actually spent time coaching the Houston Texans for a time, as well as his grandson Wesley.  In retirement, Phillips spent some time in the broadcast booth as a color commentator but eventually returned to ranching while also being involved with public speaking, advertising, and charitable work.  He started Bum Phillips Charities to provide camping and retreat facilities to pastors, widows, and children's summer camps.  He died at his ranch in Goliad, TX, in 2013 at the age of 90, having been inducted into the SFA University Letterman's Association Hall of Fame (1976), Museum of the Gulf Coast - Sports Hall of Fame (1992), Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1999), and Oilers/Titans Ring of Honor (2022).  The annual game between Nederland and Port Neches - Groves was renamed the Bum Phillips Bowl in 2014, a year after he died, in honor of the man who coached and left a legacy for both schools.

Note: Any trademarks or copyrights that may exist for entities referenced on this page are the property of their holders.  I claim no ownership and make no representation, nor do I receive any compensation for their use as this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only.  Special thanks to Google Earth, which makes historical aerial photography available.