Sports · American Football · 3 hrs ago
Sam Houston fires coach Phil Longo after 3-17 record
Sam Houston fired head coach Phil Longo on Wednesday after the Bearkats started this season 1-7.
Longo's record across two seasons was 3-17 overall and 1-11 in Conference USA.
Associate head coach Eric Raisbeck and defensive coordinator Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will serve as interim co-head coaches for the rest of the season.
Sam Houston moved up to the top level of college football, the FBS, in 2023 and joined Conference USA.
Longo had previously worked under longtime coach K.C. Keeler, who led the team to an FCS national championship in 2021 before leaving for Temple.
The team’s offense ranked last in Conference USA in both of Longo’s seasons, and the change is intended to help Sam Houston compete more consistently.
The Bearkats are next scheduled to play at Jacksonville State on Nov.
7.
Sam Houston fired football coach Phil Longo on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, after less than two seasons.
Longo’s record was 3-17 overall and 1-11 in Conference USA play.
Associate head coach Eric Raisbeck and defensive coordinator Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will serve as interim co-head coaches for the rest of the season.
The Bearkats had started the season 1-7 and lost nine straight games against FBS opponents.
Athletic director Bobby Williams said the school decided a change in leadership was necessary after reviewing the program’s performance and direction.
- Who
- Sam Houston fired head coach Phil Longo.
- What
- Associate head coach Eric Raisbeck and defensive coordinator Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will serve as interim co-head coaches.
- When
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
- Where
- Sam Houston, in Conference USA.
- Why
- Longo went 3-17, including 1-11 in conference play. The school said a change in leadership was needed after reviewing the program’s performance and direction.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
K.C. Keeler led Sam Houston to an FCS national championship.
Sam Houston moved up to compete in FBS as a member of Conference USA.
Keeler left for the head-coaching job at Temple.
Sam Houston lost 24-3 to Missouri State.
Sam Houston announced Longo’s firing and named Raisbeck and Aughtry-Lindsay interim co-head coaches.
- Longo’s overall record
- 3-17
- Conference USA record
- 1-11
- Current season start
- 1-7
- Interim co-head coaches
- Eric Raisbeck and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay
- Latest result
- 24-3 loss to Missouri State
2 sources
What people are saying
Our responsibility is to evaluate the program's performance and direction.
After careful review, I believe a change in leadership is necessary to position Bearkat Football to compete consistently in Conference USA and meet the expectations of our student-athletes, university and supporters.