Former Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo hired as Sam Houston State HC

The former Badgers offensive coordinator has found a major opportunity.

Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been hired as the Sam Houston State head coach, the school announced on Wednesday.

Longo, the Badgers offensive coordinator the past two seasons, was fired with two games to go this year, as Wisconsin went in a different direction after just 23 games.

Initially brought in to install his coveted ‘Air Raid’ offense, Longo struggled to implement the scheme with quarterback injuries and inconsistent skill position play, leading to questions about whether he could adapt enough to get better results.

Ultimately, head coach Luke Fickell went in a different direction, leaving Longo to find a new opportunity this offseason.

Well, the former offensive coordinator is taking his first head coaching gig at the collegiate level, returning to Sam Houston State where he coached as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach back from 2014-16.

For the Badgers, the question becomes whether any Wisconsin players follow Longo to his new destination, as the former coordinator was integral in a number of recruitments over the past two seasons.

But, it’s a new opportunity for Longo, who will take over for longtime head coach K.C. Keeler, who had been at Sam Houston State since 2014.