PRESS RELEASE

Northern State University Director of Athletics Nate Davis announced a change in leadership for the men’s basketball program today, with Saul Phillips tenure concluding after six seasons.

“We have not met the high expectations we have for our men’s basketball at Northern the past two seasons and a change in leadership is in the best interest of the program,” Davis said. “We would like to thank Saul for his leadership and contributions the past six seasons and wish the very best for him and his family in their next endeavor.”

During his time as the head coach at Northern State, Phillips won over 100 games and tallied three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season titles. A two-time NSIC Coach of the Year, Phillips led the Wolves to a pair of NSIC Basketball Tournament Championships in 2020 and 2021, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

“We want to keep our focus on the young men in our program through this transition and ensure they have the resources and support they need,” said Davis. “Our national search for Northern’s 23rd men’s basketball coach is already underway. We are committed to finding the right person for the job. We will have an outstanding pool of candidates with this program’s strong alignment with university leadership, exceptional facilities, a tradition of success, and passionate support of our fans, alumni, donors and the community.”