The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Volunteer Coach
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
High School: Henry Sibley High School
Phil Haig, a former collegiate pitcher who has served the last seven seasons on David Pierce’s staffs at Texas, Tulane and Sam Houston State, enters his third season as volunteer coach at Texas.
Before Texas, Haig spent the previous two seasons as volunteer coach at Tulane where he assisted Pierce with the pitching staff. While there, he helped the Green Wave to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances.
In 2016, Haig played a large part in guiding Tulane to an NCAA-best 13 shutouts, setting a single-season school record, surpassing its nine in 2015, Haig’s first season at Tulane. The 2015 Green Wave pitching staff was one of the best in the nation. The backend of the bullpen registered 17 saves, tying for the fourth-most in a single season at Tulane.
Prior to Tulane, the 30-year-old spent three years as Pierce’s volunteer coach at Sam Houston State. In each season with the Bearkats, Haig helped SHSU to the Southland Conference title and an NCAA Regional appearance.
Before starting his collegiate coaching career with the Bearkats in 2012, Haig spent the 2011 season as a left-handed pitcher at Florida International University after sitting out the 2010 season due to transfer rules. While at FIU, he led the Golden Panthers in wins (nine), innings pitched (99.1) and strikeouts (72). His 9-4 record helped FIU to a 40-20-1 record and an NCAA Regional Appearance. For his efforts, Haig was named an All-Sun Belt second-team selection.
From 2008 to 2009, Haig was a dual-sport athlete at Illinois, where he lettered in both football and baseball. During his sophomore season with the Fighting Illini, Haig went 7-3 in 82.1 innings, leading the team in wins. As a freshman, he finished the season with a 2-3 record in 36.1 innings, earning Big 10 Pitcher of the Week honors during the final week of the regular season.
Haig was also a backup quarterback for the 2008 Fighting Illini football team that competed in the school's first Rose Bowl since 1984.
The Inver Grove Heights, Minn. native was a five-sport athlete at Henry Sibley High School where he earned a total of 10 all-conference honors: three in baseball, three in tennis, two in football and one each in wrestling and basketball. He earned three all-state baseball selections, while also receiving high national rankings from major recruiting services for his work as a quarterback.
