Staff reporter
WILMINGTON – James Phillips, a member of the Class of 2000 at St. Elizabeth High School and most recently the coach at A.I. DuPont High School, has been named the new volleyball coach at his alma mater, athletic director Joe Papili has announced.
Phillips has experience as a coach at the high school and college level. He coached A.I.’s boys and girls teams from 2007 until this past season. His girls teams were particularly successful, appearing in five state tournaments in seven seasons, reaching the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2011.
From 2008-11, he was involved with the University of Delaware men’s club program, advising officials on club operations, finances, fundraising and scheduling; he also organized practice and training for two university-sponsored club teams. Phillips was named the 2011 National College Volleyball Federation coach of the year.
He is a graduate of UD, where he majored in English with a concentration in ethnic and cultural studies and minored in philosophy. After graduation, he spent time in the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps in Charleston, S.C., and Philadelphia.
His is a St. Elizabeth family. His parents, Bob Phillips and Karen Lynch Phillips, graduated in 1968 and 1974, respectively. His sisters, Kate (1997) and Clare (2002) are also alumnae.
The Vikings were 6-9 last season. They are scheduled to open their 2014 season on Spet. 8 at Ursuline. The home opener is Sept. 27 vs. defending state champion Padua.
