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Former Wisconsin, North Carolina OC Phil Longo hired as head coach at Sam Houston State

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/18/24•

AndrewEdGraham

Wisconsin OC Phil Longo
Mark Hoffman | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY NETWORK

Phil Longo is returning to Sam Houston State, this time as the head football coach, the school announced on Wednesday. Longo previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Bearkats from 2014-16.

Longo heads to Huntsville, Texas, after he was fired as the Wisconsin offensive coordinator during the 2024 season. He had come to Madison from North Carolina, where he had also served as the offensive coordinator. He was also the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss prior to those stops.

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“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 release announcing his hire. “I am elated and honored to become the next head football coach at Sam Houston State University.” 

Sam Houston State is finishing its second year of FBS football in 2024 with a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. Longo will take over for Year 3 after former Bearkats head coach K.C. Keeler took the head coaching job at Temple.

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When Longo last coached at Sam Houston State, the Bearkats played in the Southland Conference while competing at the FCS level. Longo represents the first search and hire the school made as an FBS program.

“Our first FBS head football coach search was the best process I have been a part of in my 42 years at Sam Houston,” athletic director Bobby Williams said in a release. “The candidate pool was excellent and we appreciate everyone’s interest in our football program. The finalists were all quality FBS coaches and we could have worked with all of them. Personally, I am very excited to work with Phil to continue our success.”

This will also be Longo’s second career stint as a head coach, as he was the top man for LaSalle for two seasons, in 2004 and 2005.

“Throughout each step of this process, Phil Longo kept rising to the top as the best choice to lead our football program,” Williams said. “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.”