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Sam Houston hired Phil Longo as head coach on Wednesday, tabbing a person who served as the school’s offensive coordinator from 2014-16.

Longo was Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator this season until being fired on Nov. 17, one day after the Badgers fell 16-13 to top-ranked Oregon.

Longo replaces K.C. Keeler, who recently departed to become the coach at Temple.

“My family and I feel that a part of us has never left Sam Houston and it feels like we are returning home,” Longo said in a news release announcing his hire. “I am elated and honored to become the next head football coach at Sam Houston State University.”

Sam Houston is completing its second season at the FBS level. The Bearkats (9-3) will face Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl on Thursday.

Longo, 56, also had stints as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2017-18) and North Carolina (2019-22) during his career. He was the OC under Keeler in his previous stint with the Bearkats.

“Throughout each step of this process, Phil Longo kept rising to the top as the best choice to lead our football program,” Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said in the news release. “He checked all the boxes we were looking for from knowing our program and his success as our offensive coordinator. His growth from his time at Ole Miss, North Carolina and Wisconsin were also key factors in our decision. In addition, he has a high level of support from our on-campus leaders and overwhelming positive input from donors and fans.”

–Field Level Media