Colorado University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Wide Receivers Coach
Jason Phillips joined the Colorado staff prior to the 2024 season as wide receivers coach.
Since arriving in Boulder, Phillips has overseen one of the most productive receiving units in program history. In 2024, he coached Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who finished the season with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, setting a new Colorado record for touchdown receptions while ranking second in receptions and third in receiving yards in single-season history. Hunter recorded a program-record eight 100-yard receiving games, including four consecutive to open the season, and led the Buffaloes with 96 points scored. His 16 total touchdowns rank tied for eighth in school history.
Phillips also coached Jimmy Horn Jr., who started 11 games and totaled 37 receptions for 441 yards and a touchdown despite missing time late in the season due to injury, and LaJohntay Wester, who recorded 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wester’s production ranked among the top single-season marks in program history, finishing seventh in receptions, 12th in receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns. He also added a 76-yard punt return touchdown against Utah and averaged 12.2 yards per punt return. Hunter, Horn Jr. and Wester were all selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Phillips brought more than two decades of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Colorado. Prior to joining the Buffaloes, he served as wide receivers coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2022–23) and previously held collegiate coaching roles at Jackson State (co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers), Utah State (wide receivers/passing game coordinator), Oregon State (wide receivers/passing game coordinator), Kansas (wide receivers), SMU (co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers), Baylor (inside receivers), Texas State and multiple stints at Houston, including co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Phillips played 10 professional seasons across the NFL and CFL after being selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He played 115 career games with 55 starts, finishing with 49 receptions for 578 yards and two touchdowns in the NFL, while also recording 11 interceptions across his CFL career with 136 receptions for 2,029 yards and 16 touchdowns in Canada.
A consensus All-American at Houston in 1988, Phillips led the nation in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,444) and receiving touchdowns (15) in the Cougars’ run-and-shoot offense. He and teammate James Dixon became the only wide receiver duo in NCAA history to each record 100 receptions and rank first and second nationally in receiving in the same season. Phillips was later selected to the Southwest Conference All-Decade Team of the 1980s and inducted into the Houston Hall of Honor.
Born in Crowley, La., Phillips attended Ross Sterling High School in Houston before beginning his collegiate career at Taft Junior College and transferring to Houston.
