Phillips ready to build again

SALEM -- A slight quiver in Doug Phillips' upper lip and minor crack in his voice were barely noticeable.
Yet, they were some of the best indications Thursday that Salem school officials chose the right man as the Quakers' next football coach.
Phillips' small show of emotion came just after being quizzed on his feelings about leaving Springfield High School, where he's been varsity coach since 1997.
"Probably the toughest thing I had to do was talk to those kids at 2:10 today, and tell them," he'd accepted the Salem job, Phillips said.
"We had a strong family. We had something very special."
That's the relationship Phillips had with his players, and the type of relationships he intends to establish in the Salem locker room.
"There's other places that would love to have the feelings that we have for each other, building that family, trusting in each other, believing in each other," he told the Springfield players.
"It was tough," he said. "They're going to go on, and Springfield's going to keep winning football games."
Turnaround specialist: Since 1997, Phillips has served as a turnaround specialist at Springfield, his alma mater. The Tigers went 2-8 in his first season, but reversed that record the following year. In 1999, he fashioned the first 10-win season (10-2) in school history, grabbing an Inter-County League championship and regional semifinalist berth before being defeated by Bedford Chanel in the Division V playoffs.
In 2000, Springfield took matters a step further. A perfect regular season -- and another ICL title -- was followed by the Tigers advancing to the Div. V regional final. Springfield finished 12-1. Now, Phillips' attention is turned to building the same winning tradition at Salem.
"We're going to bring enthusiasm. We're going to bring hard work," Phillips said. "We're going to bring dedication. We're going to bring commitment. We're going to be positive. We're going to set high expectations.
"I'm a firm believer that when you do that, kids rise to those expectations."
Phillips' enthusiasm is infectious. He's young, energetic, and committed to his players -- on the field, in the locker room and, most importantly, in the classroom.
"We really think that we worked hard ... really put in long hours. We interviewed excellent people, and we feel we have the best man," said Dr. David Brobeck, Salem schools superintendent.
Six candidates: Salem interviewed six people for the position, but selected Phillips because officials were interested in finding a coach set on developing the program.
Since 1990, no Salem coach has lasted longer than three seasons, and only one coach -- Bill Bohren, now at Niles -- has posted a winning record (13-7). Since 1986, the Quakers are 59-91.
"The number one thing we have to is just dive into that weight room," Phillips said, adding that he'll bring strength coach Hank Brock with him from Springfield.
"That will be the kids' first introduction to what it's going to take to win on Friday nights. We've just got to get strong."
Phillips referred to Salem as a sleeping giant, and promised those in attendance at his official hiring at Reilly Stadium: "We will pack this stadium."
"Right now, we've just got to wake that giant, and get this football program where it needs to be.
"It's going to take a commitment. The first thing I tell a student-athlete is, 'I'm not going to work you harder than I'm going to work myself.' We set high expectations. My expectations never change. We're going to create a winning habit."
With only a few months before the start of next football season, Phillips knows time is short. First on his agenda is getting to know his new team. There's new faces to recognize and new names to learn.
One thing is certain. They'll quickly become more than that to him. They will become family.
Salem will quickly learn that's what Doug Phillips is all about.
XGeorge Welker covers high school sports for The Vindicator.