Philip Montgomery (green shirt) is the new head coach of Tulsa. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Baylor offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery was named head coach at Tulsa.
The school made the announcement on Thursday after Montgomery was one of several marquee assistant coaches interviewed to replace Bill Blankenship as head coach of the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa was 2-10 in 2014.
Texas A&M’s Jake Spavital, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost and Arizona State play-caller Mike Norvell interviewed for the position. Norvell withdrew from consideration.
Baylor’s offense averaged more than 49 points per game the past two seasons.
Montgomery, who also coaches the team’s quarterbacks, just completed his seventh season with the Bears. He came to Baylor along with head coach Art Briles from Houston and has been a Briles assistant since their days as high school coaches.
“We are extremely pleased to have Philip Montgomery as our head football coach,” Tulsa athletic director Derrick Gragg said in statement. “Coach Montgomery has outstanding background as a collegiate coach and recruiter. He is one of the bright offensive minds in college football and has coordinated explosive offenses at both Houston and Baylor.”
In 2013, Montgomery was named a finalist for the Broyles Awards as the nation’s top assistant coach.
“I am truly honored to be the next head coach at the University of Tulsa,” said Montgomery in a statement. “I want to thank President [Steadman] Upham, Derrick Gragg and the Board of Trustees for this special opportunity. I was fortunate to be in a great position working with Coach Briles and the wonderful people at Baylor. I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, but my family and I knew that it would take the right opportunity to get me to leave Waco. Tulsa is that special opportunity. There is a lot of work to get done and trust me, I’m already on it. Get ready for some fun, fast and physical football.”
