Dr. Ryon Phillips has been named Senior Associate Director of Athletics for DBU Athletics as announced on Wednesday by Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Connor Smith. Phillips has recently served as the program's Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Academic Services.
 
"Ryon has been an integral part to our department's success, and we are grateful for his service to Patriot Athletics," shared Dr. Connor Smith. "Ryon has helped raise the bar for Patriot Athletics in the areas of academic services, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, and various internal department functions and processes."
 
Since arriving at DBU in 2018, Phillips has enhanced the Patriot Athletics' student-athlete academic services program and all areas of student-athlete academic support. Additionally, Phillips has played an integral role in the development of Patriots Prepared, the Department of Athletics' leadership, spiritual, and civic development program for student-athletes.
 
Phillips helps guide and lead the Intercollegiate Athletics and NCAA Compliance committees at DBU and has served on multiple Lone Star Conference compliance committees during his time with Patriot Athletics. Under Phillips' leadership as the institutional sponsor for the DBU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) DBU Chapter, both groups have experienced new growth, participation, and involvement on campus.

As a sport administrator, Phillips provides leadership and administrative oversight to Men's & Women's Cross Country, Men's & Women's Track and Field, Men's Soccer, STUNT, Cheer, Patriettes, Table Tennis, and the university ROTC program.
 
Phillips is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, double majoring in Human Resource Management and Marketing. Phillips was a four-year starter on the MSSU Football team, and earned MIAA All-Conference honors, MIAA Defensive Player of the Week, MIAA  Academic Honor Roll, and was nominated to the Allstate Good Works Team. Phillips was also a two-year team captain for the Lions and the FCA President at MSSU.
 
Phillips is also a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, where he earned a Masters in Christian Education, and Dallas Baptist University, where he obtained his Doctorate in Educational Leadership.