Phillips joins staff at Alonso

Posted Nov 29, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 29, 2011 at 04:03 PM

Former Plant head boys basketball coach Mike Phillips has joined the staff at Alonso as an assistant coach on the varsity team.

Phillips was dismissed by Plant’s administration in March following an investigation. The investigation resulted in the Plant High athletic department being fined $1,250 and its boys basketball program reprimanded and placed on administrative probation for the 2011-2012 school year by the Florida High School Athletic Association for eligibility violations.

The punishment came after the school self-reported the violations at the request of the FHSAA. The report said Phillips offered improper benefits to a student-athlete during the month of January, but Phillips denied any intentional wrongdoing.

Plant’s coach since 1996, Phillips won over 300 career games and in 2001, guided the program to the state tournament. He left Plant with a career record of 250-152.

Alonso went 15-11 last season and lost to Wharton in the district semifinals.