Michael Phillips begins his fifth season at Montana State. Formerly an assistant with the men's tennis team at the University of Colorado, Phillips has already made his mark at MSU, as the Bobcats have been one of the top teams in the Big Sky Conference during his tenure.

Last season, he guided the Bobcats to unprecedented heights, as MSU captured the Big Sky Conference championship and earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. In addition, the Bobcats secured their first-ever doubles entry in the NCAA Championships; had their first-ever player (Federico Ueltschi) ranked among the top 100 players; and garnered a first-team CoSIDA District VII Academic honoree in Marek Gebicki.

For his efforts, Phillips earned his second Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year accolade.

Two years ago, Montana State was the league runner-up. For his efforts, Phillips garnered Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year accolades.

"We're very excited to have someone of Mike's caliber head the men's squad," said MSU senior associate athletics director for internal operations Dan Davies, who oversees the program. "It is exciting to have a coach with Mike's passion, energy and vision."

Phillips served as men's assistant coach at CU since 1997, under the direction of Scott Davidhoff. The Buffaloes posted an 11-11 mark last season, and notched 33 wins during his tenure in Boulder.

"I'm look forward to the challenge of coaching the Bobcats every day I'm with the athletes," Phillips said. "The men's team has an outstanding tradition. The program has been highly successful, including winning the 2000 Big Sky title and playing the University of Texas in the opening round of the NCAA Championships.

We'll look to use past successes as a springboard for the future."

Prior to his time at CU, Phillips served as a tennis pro for two years at the Breckenridge Recreation Center and was the head pro and program director at the Boulder Country Club for four years. He also served as a tennis pro at the Tennis Club of Albuquerque.

As a player, he played collegiately at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo., where his team was ranked in the top 20 of the NAIA. Phillips was twice named MVP of the Mavericks in his four-year career.

A native of Las Cruces, N.M., Phillips earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 1999 from Colorado. He and his wife Ginger, a former CU women's assistant coach, have conducted numerous camps and clinics throughout the Unites States.