Sam Houston State fires coach after winning just three games in two seasons
The offense-minded head coach was fired after his team scored only three points in the last game.
On Wednesday, Sam Houston State University announced the termination of head coach Phil Longo following a disappointing two-season tenure. Longo, who was hired in December 2024, led the BearKats to a combined 3-17 record, including just a single victory in 12 Conference USA matchups. The dismissal of Longo followed a 24-3 loss to Missouri State on Tuesday, just days after his firing.
Athletic Director Bobby Williams stated that the decision was made after a thorough evaluation of the program's performance and direction. Interim head coaches Eric Raisbeck and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will lead the team until the end of the season. Longo previously served as an offensive coordinator and head coach at Sam Houston State from 2014 to 2016, and had also been an assistant coach at Ole Miss.
Despite leading one of the nation's top offenses, averaging 547 yards per game, the BearKats finished the 2024 season with a 12-1 record. This season, Sam Houston State has averaged over 8 points per game in Conference USA play, but has been outscored by 72 points overall.
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