Auburn University at Montgomery Director of Athletics Erik Maas has announced hiring Ashlee’ Phillips as the program’s new head women’s basketball coach.
“We are excited to announce Coach Phillips as our next head women’s basketball coach,” said Maas. “She was pivotal to the success of our women’s basketball team on the hardwood and in the classroom last season. I look forward to watching her lead our student-athletes and build on the strong momentum that has been established in our NCAA Division II era.”
Phillips, the assistant coach for the Warhawks last year, takes the reigns looking to build on an impressive 2023-2024 campaign. AUM set NCAA Division II-era records for wins (20) and conference wins (17). At the same time, Allasha Dudley earned the program’s first all-conference and all-region honors since AUM began the transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division II in 2016-2017.”I could not be more excited to move over a seat and remain a Warhawk,” said Phillips. “It is an honor to be a part of AUM and I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to build more history for this program. I want to thank Chancellor Dr. Carl Stockton, A.D. Erik Maas, Associate A.D. Amber Rae Childress, Assistant A.D. Tim Lutz, and the entire athletic department, who have been so welcoming and loving.”
The Warhawks went 20-10, including a 17-7 record in the Gulf South Conference, en route to the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. AUM notched its first-ever GSC postseason victory with a 74-70 win over the University of West Florida to earn a berth in the GSC semifinals.
With Phillips helping lead the way, the Warhawks climbed as high as No. 7 in the NCAA South Region rankings for the first time in school history. AUM posted an 11-3 record at home and a 9-5 mark on the road, highlighted by its first road win over Lee University in a 73-47 victory that saw the orange and black drain 13 triples.
“I want to extend a thank you to my supportive family and friends who have helped and allowed me to be a great person and coach,” Phillips exclaimed. “I also want to thank Coach Jon Plefka for his guidance over the past few years. I am inspired to continue to compete at a high level. It is a great time to lead our student-athletes in finding their passion on and off the court. We will strive to stay in the present and be where our feet are planted. It is a wonderful time to be a Warhawk! #EmbraceThePresent #ResultsWillHappen #WeAreAUM”
Phillips, who came to AUM after serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at fellow NCAA Division II member Post University, helped lead the Eagles to a 21-10 overall record and a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Conference Championship runner-up finish in 2022-2023.
“Coach Phillip’s work ethic, her ability to develop talent and relationships, and build successful programs is what made her such a great fit for AUM,” said Maas. “We are excited to keep her in the Warhawk family.”
A native of San Bernardino, CA., Phillips was also a key component of Post’s 2021-2022 season that saw the Eagles go 19-8 overall and make another CACC semifinals appearance.
Phillips, who also coached at Post in the 2018-2019 season, re-joined the Eagles after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport. Before coaching the Purple Knights, Phillips was an assistant coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. She was on staff for a season there before serving as interim head coach for the Highlanders.
Along with her collegiate stops, Phillips has also been an assistant coach of the Memphis Elite AAU team and an assistant coach at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis, Tenn.
Originally from California, Phillips moved to Memphis, Tenn., and attended Kingsbury High School where she played varsity basketball. She began her collegiate career at Brewton-Parker College as a member of the women’s basketball, cross country, and track and field teams. Phillips then transferred to Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., and finished her collegiate career as a track and field student-athlete.
Phillips holds a bachelor’s degree from Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., and a graduate degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine.
https://aumathletics.com/news/2024/6/20/phillips-named-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
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