Our Thoughts on the Joker Phillips News
By WillWe’re a few days late on this, but — as promised — here are our thoughts on the University of Kentucky’s decision to name Joker Phillips as Rich Brooks’ eventual successor:
It’s a great move and an important move. It’s a great move because of the continuity it provides. (We certainly won’t claim to be the first to proclaim this.) It’s important because Phillips would be Kentucky’s first African American football coach and the Southeastern Conference’s second. (Again, we’re not breaking new ground by stating this.)
First, let’s address continuity. Kentucky football hasn’t had continuity since the 1980s, when Jerry Claiborne led the Wildcats from 1982-1989. When Claiborne retired, the fan base wanted a big name, and the University responded by hiring former Alabama coach Bill Curry, who had a relatively lengthy tenure at Kentucky, coaching the Wildcats for seven years. But there was constant speculation about his job status (comparable to the unrest surrounding Brooks’ first three and a half years on the job). As a result, the program lacked stability.
Hal Mumme replaced Curry, of course, and lasted four years. Kentucky tried continuity in choosing Mumme’s replacement when it hired from within and promoted Guy Morriss. Of course, Morriss lasted only two years and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart chose to go in a different direction with the hire of Brooks, who just finished his fifth year.
By delivering consecutive bowl wins and notching victories over Georgia, Louisville, and Louisiana State in the last two seasons, Brooks has both elevated and stabilized the program. For the first time since the mid-1980s, the fan base is largely satisfied with the job Kentucky’s head coach is doing and the direction the program is heading. That can’t be overstated. Kentucky has capitalized on this by naming Phillips — a man who’s played a huge role in Brooks’ success at Kentucky — as Brooks’ successor. It goes without saying that Phillips isn’t a sure thing. For starters, he lacks head coaching experience. But he’s a Kentucky kid and a Kentucky alum, and he’s more than earned the opportunity. As the Herald-Leader’s John Clay put it, it’s a risk, but it’s one worth taking.
In addition to providing a smooth transition when Brooks ultimately steps down, naming Phillips as Brooks successor has a more immediate impact. Chiefly, it aids recruiting. While how long Brooks plans to coach at Kentucky remains unclear, recruits at least know that if Brooks does step down, someone from within the program who they’re familiar with will be his replacement.
Now, onto race. Back in the day when we were milling about the basement of the Grehan Journalism Building and working for the Kernel, we lobbied hard for Kentucky to hire Charlie Strong when Guy Morriss bolted for Baylor. We wanted Strong because he was an up-and-coming coach with a reputation as a good recruiter. (A reputation he’s solidified at Florida.) The facts that (1) he was an African American and, if hired, would have become the overdue first such head coach in SEC history and (2) his hire, along with Tubby Smith’s in 1997, would have pretty much put to bed the generalization that Kentucky athletics and its fans are a backward bunch were added bonuses. [Note that we don’t at all believe that Kentucky athletics and the vast majority of its fans are backward, we’re just acknowledging that the perception is unfortunately out there.]
Obviously Kentucky didn’t hire Strong. But after a rocky start, Brooks has done well, and Kentucky football has also done well in giving minority coaches a chance to succeed (witness Phillips and Steve Brown, Kentucky’s defensive coordinator).
And, now, Phillips will have his chance to become the first African American football coach in UK’s history. And that’s a big deal. But as Lou Holtz told the Herald-Leader, (”With Joker Phillips, they’re not just making a good minority hire. They’re making a great hire, period.”) this isn’t a good hire because Phillips is African-American, this is a good hire because Phillips is the right man to lead the program forward.
Onward and upward!