Davy Phillips begins his ninth season on the Ichabod sidelines boasting a 79-50-12 (.603) career record with Washburn since being hired as the program’s third head coach on July 10, 2017.
Under Phillips’ tenure the Ichabods have had 49 All-MIAA members with eight total first team selections. He has also coached the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Freshman of the Year one time each in his tenure. Phillips has coached six D2CCA All-Central Region selections, six USC All-Central Region selections, two USC All-Americans and one D2CCA All-American.
In his first season at the helm in 2017 Washburn won 10 games and won a game in the conference tournament, advancing to the MIAA Semifinals. It was the first double digit victory season for the program since 2009 and the first postseason victory since the 2008 season.
In 2023 Phillips guided the Ichabods to their most successful season in program history, finishing the year with a 21-4-1 record (9-1-1 MIAA) and winning the MIAA Regular Season Championship for the second time in program history and first under Phillips. Washburn qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a third time in program history as the No. 1 seed in the Central Region. After capturing the Central Region Championship they advanced to the National Championship match for the first time in program history. The Ichabods had a program-best nine All-MIAA selections along with the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (Jordan Tenpas), Goalkeeper of the Year (Raegan Wells) and Co-Freshman of the Year (Mackinly Rohn). Phillips was also named the MIAA Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. Jordan Tenpas, Khloe Schuckman and Raegan Wells all earned All-Central Region honors by both the USC and D2CCA while Belle Kennedy was selected to the USC All-Central Region Team. Phillips and assistant coach Jessica Hillebert were recognized as the USC Central Region Staff of the Year. Both Tenpas and Schuckman earned All-American honors from the USC with Tenpas as a first team member and Schuckman on the third team. Tenpas also earned first team All-American honors from D2CCA, becoming the first Ichabod to be named a first team All-American by either organization. Washburn finished the season with a program record in wins for a season as well as the most wins of any team in Division II. They finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally by the USC, the program’s highest ever ranking.
In 2024 Phillips led the Ichabods to back to back MIAA Regular Season Championships finishing the year with a 14-4-3 record (10-1-1 MIAA) and Washburn qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a fourth time in program history as the No. 5 seed in the Central Region. The Ichabods had eight All-MIAA selections along with three first team selections and two MIAA All-Tournament picks. Washburn also had two who were named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team, while and another selected to the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team. The Ichabods also had two named to the to the USC All-Central Region Teams.
In Phillips’ tenure the Ichabods have won at least seven games in every season and qualified for the MIAA Tournament in each one. Across eight seasons of play Washburn has tallied 75 shutout efforts. Phillips has a 50-31-8 (.607) record against conference foes in his career in Topeka.
Prior to joining the Ichabods, Phillips spent three seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at Baker University starting in March of 2014 and was the assistant coach for the men’s program from 2008 to 2013. He also served as the assistant coach for the women’s program in 2009 prior to becoming head coach. In three seasons as Baker’s head women’s soccer coach he compiled a 44-14-6 record.
In 2016, Phillips led the Wildcats to a 17-4-3 record and their second NAIA National Semifinal appearance in program history while coaching two All-American selections as well as seven All-Heart of America Conference picks, the defensive player of the year and the freshman of the year. Baker finished with a school-best No. 3 in the final NAIA National ranking. Phillips was named the NSCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year.
In his second season as head coach of the women’s program in 2015, Phillips led Baker to a 16-5-1 overall record advancing to the NAIA Sweet 16 finishing the season ranked No. 13 in the final poll. Off the 2015 squad, Phillips coached two All-Americans as well as the league’s defensive player of the year and seven all-conference selections.
In his first season as head coach of the women’s program in 2014, Baker finished 11-5-2 and tied for second-place with Missouri Valley in the regular season standings of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Overall, at Baker in three seasons as the Wildcats’ women’s head coach, Phillips mentored five All-American selections, seven all-region honorees, 22 Heart of America all-conference picks, two defensive players of the year and one freshman of the year leading Baker to a NAIA Sweet 16 appearance and a NAIA National Semifinal and two top 13 final national poll rankings. Equally as impressive in the classroom, since becoming head coach Baker has had eight NSCAA All-American Scholars and has been a three-time NSCAA Team Academic Award Winner.
Between the 2008-13 seasons as the associate head coach for the men’s and women’s soccer programs, Baker has graduated 31 NSCAA All-American Scholars and has had a combined 117-55-23 record coaching 65 All-HAAC selections, six HAAC Player of the Year Awards, 13 NAIA All-Americans, four NSCAA All-Americans and five All-Region picks.
Before coaching at Baker, Phillips was previously an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s programs at California State University at San Marcos.
Phillips graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Baker. He also earned his Master of Liberal Arts degree from Baker. As a player, he was elected captain for his junior and senior seasons and was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-region performer. The Wildcats won two Heart of America Championships, two Region V Championships and made three NAIA National Tournament appearances. For his playing contributions, Phillips was awarded a place in Baker’s “All-Time Starting 11” in 2009.
Phillips holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and resides in Lawrence, Kan., with his wife Brianne and daughters Maddy and Berklee.
