Alfred University Athletics

 

Hired at AU:	Summer of 2010
Alma Mater:	Alfred University '10

Matt Phillips first began on the track and field coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in 2010 upon graduating with his bachelor's in ceramic engineering. He held that position from 2010 until 2012. Phillips returned to the coaching staff in 2014 where he has coached ever since. He assumed the cross country Head Coach position in the Spring of 2019.

Phillips has enjoyed an accomplished tenure with both the men's and women's cross country teams as a head coach. On the men's side, Finnegan Dean '26 became the first student-athlete to receive All-Empire 8 honors dating back to the 2017 season. On the women's side, Phillips has coached the likes of Holly Passetti '21, who was named as the Alfred University nominee for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year. During the 2021 season, the women's side registered their best finish at the Empire 8 Cross Country Championships dating back to the 2010 season. Over the course of the 2022 season, McKenzie Hall '24 and Mari Jablonski '23 earned All-Empire 8 honors for Alfred University, with Hall setting course records at Geneseo (25:24.90) and Houghton (24:08.20).  

Academically, the cross country programs have thrived under Phillips. Both the men's and women's cross country programs earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors twice. In order to qualify, each team posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.10 or higher, which the Saxons accomplished following the 2022 and 2024 seasons. 

While a student-athlete as a Saxon, Phillips participated on the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field teams for four years. He was a member of the 4x400-meter relay teams for both indoor and outdoor that held school records with times of 3:25.22 and 3:20.85, respectively. Coach Phillips graduated from Alfred University in 2010 with his Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering. He was earned Presidential Scholarship and made the Dean's List in 2006 and 2007.
 

Men's Empire 8 All-Conference Honors:	1
Women's Empire 8 All-Conference Honors:	3
NCAA Regional Championship Participants:	66
USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors:	2022, 2024