WEST HARRISON, Ind. - Joker Phillips could not have found the spotlight much brighter as University of Kentucky head coach from 2010-12, but now Phillips is loving life as a University of Cincinnati football assistant.
The 54-year-old Phillips is wide receivers coach on the staff of first-year UC head coach Luke Fickell. After several years in the fast lane of the Southeastern Conference, Phillips is quite content in the "Group of Five" American Athletic Conference.
"It's been a great experience," Phillips said Monday, after UC's latest practice here at Camp Higher Ground. "Coming back and seeing all the improvements that the program has made facility-wise and that the city has made, and also the university.