Sam Houston Bears Drop Longo

Phil Longo is out as Sam Houston head coach. The Bearkats lost 24-3 to Missouri State on Tuesday, marking their ninth straight defeat against FBS competition. Athletic director Bobby Williams announced the firing on Wednesday.

Longo was hired for his first FBS head coaching job weeks after leaving Wisconsin, where he served as offensive coordinator. He replaced K.C. Keeler, who guided the team to an FCS national championship in the spring of 2021. Under Keeler, the program went 10-3 and secured its first bowl victory since moving up to FBS two years prior.

Longo had previously worked under Keeler from 2014 to 2016. During that time, they won two Southland Conference titles and reached the FCS national semifinals. However, his tenure as head coach saw the Bearkats go 3-17 overall. In Conference USA play, the team went 1-11 across those two seasons.

The offense struggled significantly in its final year. It ranked last in the conference, averaging only 322.8 yards per game in 2026. The Bearkats scored just three points in three of their four conference games this season. Williams said the change was necessary to help the team compete consistently and meet expectations.

Eric Raisbeck and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will serve as interim co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. Raisbeck was the associate head coach, while Aughtry-Lindsay handled defensive duties. The school has not announced when it will name a permanent replacement.

Williams noted that Longo contributed to the program as both an offensive coordinator and head coach. He stated that a careful review of the program's performance and direction led to the decision. The Bearkats are now winless against FBS opponents.