Lower Schoolers run rampant around the gym in their yellow shirts and blue shorts as foam balls fly across the room. Amongst all of the coaches, one distinct voice can be heard above them all.
Later in the day, as the Middle School basketball team prepares to take the court, that same voice can be heard and recognized by almost everyone on campus.
For both students and athletes alike, coach Dwight Phillips has served as a role model and inspiration for countless students and alumni across campus.
For Phillips, after his collegiate basketball career came to an end, the guidance he received throughout his collegiate career inspired him to become a coach in hopes of spreading those same lessons to the next generation of athletes.
“I coached basketball for 13 years and then I came to St. Mark’s and I’ve been here 25 years,” Phillips said. “I’ve coached football, basketball, track and field, and now I coach volleyball also.”
Throughout his career here, Phillips’ passion for coaching has impacted many athletes and coaches. That passion can be traced back to his early days in college when he was coached by Gerald Myers, the former head coach for the Texas Tech basketball team.
“My passion came from my college coach. He was in that company with Bobby Knight and those guys, creating great chemistry” Phillips said.
The experience of playing at a prestigious basketball program gave him the desire to continue his love for the sport. Playing at Texas Tech lit a fire in him, one that continues to shape his coaching philosophy today.
“I always wanted to be that coach. My dream was to coach college basketball, but when I came to St. Mark’s, that changed,” Phillips said. “I had a great opportunity here to coach some of the best athletes a private school could offer and be part of a school so special.”
Phillips’ desire to win is what has ultimately shaped his coaching style into what it is today. Now, as a coach of multiple teams across campus, he hopes to spread those same messages from college to his players.
“My philosophy is that I’m going to outwork you. I’m going be physical, and I’m going to make life miserable for you,” Phillips said.
Junior Pranav Danda has had the opportunity to work with Phillips both as an advisor and as a coach. Now, the starting varsity point guard for the Lions, Danda credits Phillips as playing a major role in his development on and off the court.
“As an advisor, Coach Phillips placed a big emphasis on being respectful and the way we interacted with adults and classmates,” Danda said. “He emphasized how important it is to take care of each other.”
During Danda’s seventh grade year, when Covid-19 precautions still loomed large, Phillips coached Danda in the middle school intramural basketball league.
“We really practiced the fundamentals,” Danda said. “But he also understood that scrimmaging and learning through live game scenarios was really important. For me specifically, he taught me how to be more of a vocal leader on the court, which is something I pride myself on.”
Beyond the role of advisor and coach and in addition to being one of the nicest people on campus, Danda appreciates all the times Phillips truly went above and beyond to help him succeed.
“When I was a freshman and I hadn’t even played a single minute of high school basketball, he showed up at 6:30 a.m. every morning to put the hoops down, just so I could get some shots up before school,” Danda said.