Former WVU Rifle Standout Morgan Phillips Joins Memphis As Graduate Assistant Coach

by
posted on September 11, 2020
mp-3.jpg

Big news from the University of Memphis yesterday. The Wildcats announced that former West Virginia University (WVU) rifle team shooter and two-time NCAA smallbore champion Morgan Phillips has accepted a position with the rifle team as a graduate assistant coach.

Morgan Phillips
New Memphis rifle team graduate assistant coach Morgan Phillips. (Photo courtesy of WVU Athletic Communications)


Regular SSUSA readers will remember our first interview with Phillips in 2017, during her freshman year at WVU, where under head coach Jon Hammond, she helped the Mountaineers win the NCAA team rifle championship. She was also a member of the WVU rifle teams that finished as the NCAA rifle runner-up in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, Phillips was back-to-back NCAA individual smallbore rifle champion in 2017 and 2018.

She joins Memphis rifle team head coach Dan Hermsmeier, another member of the Jon Hammond coaching tree who helped the Mountaineers as a graduate assistant coach from 2014 to 2016.

"We have both spent considerable time in Morgantown under Mountaineers head coach Jon Hammond, so we will work very well together developing Memphis rifle into a championship-level team," said Hermsmeier.

Phillips is excited about her new role, particularly about sticking around competitive shooting, but this time as the teacher, rather than the student. In an interview with the Memphis Athletics website, she said:

"There is a great group of student-athletes here at Memphis," said Phillips. "I've only been here a few weeks working with them so far, and all the student-athletes work really hard and are very receptive to coaching. I see a lot of potential in them as they all are eager to learn. I'm excited to see where we can go."

As for the 2020-21 rifle season, the Memphis Tigers have more than new coach Morgan Phillips as an ace up their sleeve. Five student-athletes are returning to the team, which ranked No. 10 at the close of last season—the program's highest finish since 2016.

Lead photo courtesy of WVU Athletic Communications.


See more: The New Gold Standard: Ginny Thrasher

Latest

Buildingstagespeed 4
Buildingstagespeed 4

Guide To Building Stage Speed

These tips for building stage speed in action shooting will help you rise to the top of the match leaderboard at your next competition.

More Than 6,000 Shooters Experience An Improved Range: 1961 National Matches

A refurbished range greeted the more than 6,000 competitors at the 1961 National Matches, a number which broke attendance records.

Rich Combination Of History & Shooting On Display At Creedmoor 150 Match

A weeklong competition with period and recreated rifles was held in October to recognize the 150th anniversary of the original 1874 Creedmoor International Match.

NRA Announces 2025 National Matches Locations & Schedule

The 2025 NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held at the Cardinal Shooting Center, Alliance Rifle Club, Oklahoma City Gun Club and Winnequah Gun Club next June and July.

2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Rifles

Five rifles that are excellent presents for competitive shooters this holiday season.

All About The 2024 USPSA Alabama State Championship

The 2024 USPSA Alabama State Championship was held at Cavern Cove Competitive Shooting Range in Marshall County, Ala., May 16-18.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.