Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who was fired by head coach Luke Fickell with two games left in the 2024 season, has landed on his feet as head coach at Sam Houston, an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program (it's the same NCAA level as Wisconsin) playing in Conference USA.

Sam Houston hired Phil Longo as head coach on Wednesday, tabbing a person who served as the school's offensive coordinator from 2014-16. Longo was Wisconsin's offensive coordinator this season until

Phil Longo is returning to Sam Houston State, this time as the head football coach, the school announced on Wednesday. Longo previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Bearkats from 2014-16.

Meanwhile, Jeff Grimes, who came from the University of Kansas, was hired by Wisconsin to take Longo’s place as offensive coordinator. Grimes is expected to bring the Badgers back to a more traditional pro-style offense, replacing Longo’s “air-raid” style of play.

Phil Longo is returning to Sam Houston as the Bearkats' next head football coach, as first reported by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

Former Bearkats offensive coordinator Phil Longo is returning to Texas after stints at Ole Miss, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Longo is considered one of college football's top offensive minds, despite an untimely exit this past season from Wisconsin, veteran play-caller Phil Longo is on the verge of his first-ever Football Bowls Subdivision head coaching post.

Longo, who recently spent OC tenures at North Carolina and Wisconsin, previously served on Sam Houston’s staff from 2014-16.