MANSFIELD — David Phillips landed his dream job and he’s assembling an all-star staff.
A 2004 Mansfield Senior graduate, Phillips will become his alma mater’s next football coach pending board approval.
It’s a dream come true. I’m a Tyger through and through
David Phillips
“It’s a dream come true,” Phillips said Wednesday evening. “I’m a Tyger through and through. I’ve dreamed of this.
“I’ve got the community behind me and I trust the staff I’m putting together.”
That group includes 2019 Mr. Football finalist Angelo Grose, who starred at Michigan State, and classmate Anthony Hawkins, who enjoyed a brilliant collegiate career at Bowling Green. Grose and Hawkins were key pieces on Senior High’s Division III state runner-up team.
Mansfield Senior’s former career rushing king, Phillips was the running backs coach on Chioke Bradley’s staff during the historic 2019 season.
“We’ve got some other coaching positions to fill, but I feel good about the guys we have in place,” Phillips said. “I played for Stan Jefferson and coached for Chioke Bradley, who I consider the (greatest of all time), so I feel like I know what it takes to be successful.”
Phillips will succeed Antonio Fletcher, whose contract was non-renewed after just one season. Like Fletcher, who wasn’t hired until April of last year, Phillips was hired late in the cycle.
“We’re behind the eight-ball,” Phillips said. “Other schools have a three-month head start on us.
“It’s time to get to work.”
Mansfield Senior was 1-9 each of the past two years after a near-complete roster turnover following the 2023 season. Senior High reached the third round of the playoffs in 2023, ending an unprecedented streak of five straight postseason appearances.
While the Tygers struggled last fall, Phillips said the cupboard isn’t bare. Sophomore quarterback Sean Tanner threw for 1,475 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 51 percent of his passes.
“There is talent in the upper grades,” he said. “We’re Senior High. There is always talent.
“We just got to get them excited.”
There is plenty of excitement for the incoming freshman class. Phillips has coached that group to undefeated football and basketball seasons each of the past two years at the junior high level.
The eighth-grade football team outscored opponents 332-36 last fall.
“The future is tremendously bright, but we’re not going to rush those kids,” said Phillips, who has two sons in the eighth-grade class. “It’s a process and we’ve got to trust the process.
“At the end of the day, some of those kids are 13 years old. I want the kids to have fun and enjoy the game.”
Phillips can’t wait to get started.
“We’ll get right to it tomorrow,” Phillips said. “We’re going to put the rest of the puzzle pieces together with my staff and get the weight room up and running.
“We’ve got to get it stronger and faster and that starts now.”