Phillips returning to New Bloomfield as girls basketball coach

In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, former Jefferson City boys basketball coach Tony Phillips speaks to his players during a game at Fleming Fieldhouse in Jefferson City. (Jason Strickland/News Tribune)
In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, former Jefferson City boys basketball coach Tony Phillips speaks to his players during a game at Fleming Fieldhouse in Jefferson City. (Jason Strickland/News Tribune)

After coaching high school sports for more than 19 years and winning three basketball district titles, Tony Phillips is coming home and taking the helm of the New Bloomfield girls basketball program.

Joining Phillips' staff as an assistant is Shawn Martin, the two were childhood friends and teammates on the New Bloomfield boys basketball team from 1991-93.

When Phillips moved to New Bloomfield his freshman year of high school -- 1991 -- he and Martin became close friends.

Every single day when Phillips was in high school, he would play dunkball at his house with Martin, Evan Polly, Jeff Custard and some other New Bloomfield basketball teammates.

Dunkball is played like basketball, but with a lower rim and players can only dunk to score. According to Phillips, dunkball created toughness for him and his teammates.

"We (Phillips and Martin) just had a tremendous bond and it translated on the court," Phillips said.

On the court, Phillips was the "glue guy" while Martin was the Wildcats' main scoring threat.

"I was smart enough that I liked winning so much that I made sure I found ways to get (Martin) the ball," Phillips said. "And that just also creates a bond. And he's just very passionate about New Bloomfield and the athletic program there, especially basketball."

Martin's scoring ability led to him being named second-team all-state in boys basketball in 1992-93.

Not only did Martin have an illustrious playing career for New Bloomfield, Phillips did himself. Phillips was a two-sport athlete for the Wildcats, playing baseball along with basketball.

"I won eight district championships, back-to-back-to-back state titles for baseball -- my freshman, sophomore (and) junior year," Phillips said. "And then 20 years later and

coaching now, I realize how hard it is to get to the Final Four -- do the things that (former New Bloomfield boys' basketball/baseball coach Rod Haley) did every year."

Haley built New Bloomfield into a Missouri high school baseball dynasty over an amazing 12-year period from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, collecting six Class 1A state titles.

While playing under Haley, Phillips learned that doing the little things as a coach makes winning teams.

"Daily preparation, teamwork, putting the team in front of any personal goals or ambitions you have," Phillips said. "We all did it because at the end of the day we just win."

Outside of being a New Bloomfield graduate, Phillips took the coaching position in order to be closer to family.

Phillips is a father of three and the grandfather of a 4-year-old.

"I was at Southern Boone for 15-16 years, and I just dug in so hard coaching," Phillips said. "We went to the Final Four in 2016 and got beaten in the quarterfinals in 2017. Then, I missed out on a lot of my kids growing up and I've got a granddaughter now. I needed to be back here closer to them so I can enjoy this part of their life."

Most of Phillips' coaching experience was at Southern Boone (2003-18), serving as its baseball coach for 15 years, football for 11 years and girls basketball from 2015-18.

After leaving Southern Boone in 2015, Phillips coached at Jefferson City.

Phillips was appointed the Jays' boys basketball coach in 2019.

During a two-year period with Phillips as coach, Jefferson City went 24-28 and won its first district title since 2015, beating Helias 65-63 in the 2021 Class 6 District 9 championship.

In his five years as a high school basketball coach, Phillips has an overall record of 84-54, which include six tournament titles, two conference championships, three district championships, two sectional wins, and two trips to the state tournament quarterfinal and one Final Four appearance.

On Wednesday, a new chapter in Phillips' high school basketball coaching career began as he met his New Bloomfield team for the first time.

Following Wednesday, New Bloomfield has a week off before preparation truly starts July 5.

While Phillips admitted it's a late start to begin coaching the team, he doesn't think it matters.

"It's kind of the way coach Haley, the way he went about it is outworking your opponents every day," Phillips said. "If you do that day in and day out, good things are gonna happen come March."

The style of play to make good things happen for Phillips -- pressing.

"We'll be fun to watch," Phillips said. "We'll get out and run, try to get as many layups as we can, or kind of pressure the ball. And we'll play man-to-man and we'll play hard."

Along with coaching the girls' basketball team, Phillips will serve as an assistant for New Bloomfield softball, a team that also has a new coach.

While it may be Zach Moore's first season as softball coach, Phillips coached him when he played high school baseball at Southern Boone from 2010-13.

Last season, with Moore as an assistant, New Bloomfield softball placed third in the Class 2 State Tournament.

"Zach's an unbelievable kid and played baseball for me -- four years (of) baseball at Southern Boone," Phillips said. "I'm just very proud of the young man and the father and the husband that he's become, and we're gonna have a really good team this year. And with any former players, regardless of coaching or whatever they do in life, you want them to be successful. If I can help Zach and the girls to be successful, that'll mean a lot to me."

The main reason Phillips enjoys coaching high school sports is the ability it has to tie a town together.

"To me, there's nothing like it," Phillips said. "When you advance in district play and in state tournament play, it's just a really great environment. What it does to a school and community is what makes it special."