SEATTLE – He was instrumental in the design and construction of a renovated Brougham Pavilion. Brought in several of Seattle Pacific's most successful coaches.
Was at the helm during an extended run of high achievements across numerous sports at the national level, including five championships. And became one of the athletic department's most effective fundraisers
Through all of that, Keith Phillips remained a soft-spoken family man, whether it was with his real family or his Falcon family.
Phillips passed away on March 20 at the age of 90.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for this Saturday, May 31 at 1:00 p.m. in the Beachwood Lounge at Warm Beach Senior Community. It is located at 20420 Marine Drive in Stanwood, north of Seattle in Snohomish County. (Cards may be sent to wife, Susie, at that address.)
Keith Phillips in action for the Falcons
after an all-star high school career.
Phillips graduated from then-Seattle Pacific College in 1956 after playing basketball for coach Les Habegger and baseball for coach Dale Parker.
In 1958, after teaching school in both Yakima and Seattle, Phillips and wife Susie accepted an opportunity to work at a fledgling school (Norfolk Christian) and summer camp (Triple R Ranch, which he and Susie helped develop) in Norfolk, Virginia. At the school, he helped start a basketball team which went on to become championship-caliber, with several players going on to compete in college.
Following a 15-year career at the school and camp, Phillips became athletic director, professor, and coach at Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1973.
Then in 1980, he returned to Seattle and became the athletic director at Seattle Pacific – the first Falcon alum to take that position.
Along with his work toward Brougham Pavilion/s renovation, Phillips also was key in building a relationship between SPU and Seattle Parks that ultimately led to the construction of Interbay Soccer Stadium.
His drive and passion went beyond just intercollegiate sports. He also focused on building a solid intramurals program, which he saw as part of the overall school mission toward building community.
Among the coaches Phillips hired during his tenure were Ken Bone for men's basketball, Nels Hawkinson and Gordy Presnell for women's basketball, Keith Jefferson and Jim Schultz for rowing, and JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner, who started the volleyball program. In addition, he re-hired legendary Dr. Ken Foreman for track following Foreman's six-year hiatus.
While Phillips was in the athletic director's seat, the Falcons won three NCAA men's soccer titles, two women's gymnastics titles, had 11 straight top-four gymnastics finishes, 10 top-8 finishes in soccer, and eight top-10 NCAA finishes in women's outdoor track,
Away from work, Phillips was an avid fisherman, and had numerous other interests, including gardening, reading, and enjoyed attending events that featured his children and grandchildren.
Phillips is survived by his wife Susie, to whom he was married for 70 years, children Randy (Karen), Beth (Sam) and Rob (Jen), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
