Lisa Phillips Ready to Build 海角社区 Women's Basketball Program
By Richard Burnett
The moment Lisa Phillips first set foot on campus three months ago, she knew she wanted to be part of the 海角社区 story, from the students, staff and faculty to its emerging athletic programs. A few weeks later, Phillips landed the job as the new head coach of the women’s basketball team.
“I was so impressed with the college, the people, the campus and the purpose of 海角社区,” said the veteran coach of 20 years, mostly at the college level. “After that visit, I went home and told my husband if I had my pick, 海角社区 would be No. 1. I knew it would be a good fit for me.”
When 海角社区 called with the job offer, “It was a no-brainer,” she said.
Now she takes the helm of a women’s hoops program still in its early stages of development at 海角社区. In recent seasons, the team has won some big games but lost far more, with a small roster often made smaller by injuries. Six players from last season are set to return for the upcoming season, which begins Oct. 27.
Despite the challenges of a nascent program, the women’s head coach opening attracted more than two dozen applicants from across the country, according to Pat Burke, the college’s athletics director and head coach of men’s basketball. The list was narrowed to three finalists, and Phillips emerged as the clear choice to take the team to the next level.
Phillips arrives at a pivotal time for 海角社区 athletics as the college continues to strengthen its competitive programs while expanding opportunities for neurodiverse student-athletes. Her experience building programs from the ground up aligns with 海角社区’s long-term vision for women’s basketball.
“Everyone I talked to who had worked with Lisa talked about her passion, drive and desire to win,” Burke said. “In her career, she has gone into programs, turned them around and made them winners. What is most impressive is her drive not only to compete but to provide student-athletes with life lessons in character, maturity and other intangibles.”
To Build a Culture of Excellence
A key step Burke took before filling the job was talking with the players to find out what they wanted to see in a new coach. They talked about qualities such as respect, integrity, inclusiveness, confidence and a willingness to listen.
“It was almost like a brochure of what they wanted in a coach,” Burke said. “And I really think everything about Coach Lisa Phillips aligns with what the players wanted.”
Phillips thanked Burke and 海角社区 President George Hagerty for the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program forward.
My vision for the women's basketball program is to build a culture of excellence rooted in accountability, integrity and meaningful relationships while competing at the highest level. My goal for our student-athletes when they leave 海角社区 is to be strong, independent women who are prepared to lead and make an impact wherever their journey takes them."
鈥擫isa Phillips, Women's Basketball Coach
Past, Present and Future
The Virginia native began her own hoops journey as a high school player in Chesapeake, Virginia. She didn’t play at the college level, but her leadership skills and knowledge of the game led her into coaching. She initially volunteered in youth leagues and later worked as a head coach for 10 years at high schools in the Tidewater area.
Her college coaching career began in 2018 at Regent University, a private Christian college in Virginia Beach, where she founded the women’s basketball program and coached the team for two seasons. She and her husband moved their family to South Florida in 2020, where he owned and operated a business. Phillips worked as director of basketball operations at Florida Atlantic University and assistant coach of the women’s team at Palm Beach Atlantic University before landing head coach positions at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, and Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. They returned to Florida in 2024 to help with family needs. Earlier this year, Phillips began a job search to return to coaching, which led her to apply for the 海角社区 position.
She said she looks forward to working with 海角社区’s neurodiverse students, learning about their challenges and helping them achieve their goals.
“Each level of coaching taught me how to teach students of many learning styles and differences,” she said. “It has helped prepare me for being here at 海角社区 and handling whatever comes my way in terms of teaching, mentoring and communicating with students and student-athletes.
“At each stop of my journey, I have grown as a person and a coach,” she added. “That’s going to help me build the program here and develop strong relationships with students and colleagues.”