By Lynn Schofer
The Seaford High School football team has a new coach this season but he is not new to the sport. The district hired Glenn Phillips, Jr. to build the football team and lead the players with his experience and knowledge of the game.
Coach Phillips’ experience spans over 23 years of coaching from Pop Warner high in Laurel, where he led the varsity team in 2014 to the Division II state finals and was voted state coach of the year. Phillips was an assistant from 2001 to 2011 before becoming Laurel’s head coach for the next four years. After Laurel made the choice to move on he became part of the Parkside Rams in Maryland.
“I drove an hour round trip to coach and learned what a big program looks like and the community was a strong support with the boosters. Laurel was the same way with the support and community. The town shuts down for Friday Night Lights and everyone knows the coaches and players,” Phillips said.
Seaford High’s new head football coach Glenn Phillips takes over the program this season after coaching at Laurel and Parkside.
Phillips worked under Coach Brendan Riley, “People thought we were twins because we looked so much alike. I worked as the offensive coordinator and then assistant head coach and was part of producing a successful team.” In the competitive Bayside Conference, the Rams developed nine 1,000 yard running backs and won the most games in Parkside history, as well as hosting playoff games in six of eight years. Phillips coached over 25 players who moved on to play at the next level.
He took two years off but stayed in football as a referee, then received a promotion at work which provided him the opportunity to return to head coaching. “My daughter doesn’t remember me as a coach, she didn’t see the wins or the championships. I spoke to my family and my wife gave me the 100 percent go-ahead,” he said.
With a strong belief in community, Phillips plans to build the team into something that the entire community and alumni will be proud. “We always heard stories about ‘The Pit; and I know Marc Dickerson and I coached against Capt. Dickerson. I now get to see it. The Pit is historical and I got chills the first time I walked down the step and in The Pit. You heard the stories for years and I got to see some great players like Lovett Purnell and Delino Deshields play. I played in the rivalry game and the truth is the Laurel-Seaford game is the game of games.”
Along with experience, Phillips said he will bring accountability, discipline, and commitment to the football program. “I want the team to show pride in the football program and in the community. I want a community oriented atmosphere and want to bring everyone back home to the games. It will be a special night getting back on the field and I want it to be special for the players and community,” said Phillips
Phillips said he and the players will be seen in the community, “I am available to the community, when you see me, come up and talk to me. The kids will put effort into the community and we must put a good product on the field with discipline and good citizenship.”
Phillips brings with him some returning coaches as well as men he has worked with and coached. Coach Andy Lee, Rayce Boyer, Joe Paleen, Mike Greenlief, and James Schultz are some of the returning coaches while Phillips is bringing in other experienced coaches in Tom Turnbaugh and former Laurel quarterback Alan Lubiniecki. Also, RJ Parker, who played DII football, who will be JV coach, and Seaford graduate and college player George Blanchard will also join the staff.
Game night will be electrified Phillips said. “I will scream and holler when they do good or bad, and will celebrate their success. We are going to be conditioned, tough physically and mentally. You are going to see a multitude of packages. We will be disciplined inside the lines and no-nonsense, we will be strong,” Phillips said. “I want to represent the Dickerson family, it is special and I want to represent the legacy he left.”
Phillips said the staff will be supportive of the middle school and youth football programs and wants them to look forward to putting on a Seaford football jersey, “We are building the foundation for success. This is for their futures, I am here for the duration and build this thing the right way. Kids are filling the weight room already and work begins June 2. I already watched and broke down film. Seaford is going to make some noise.”
