The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1364233
MAY/JUNE 2021 ■ 13 TRACKING THE PACK NC State had just one change to its football staff in the off- season, with Joker Phillips replacing George McDonald as the wide receivers coach. Phillips also has the title of assistant head coach. Phillips was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Maryland the past two years, and most notably a former head coach at Kentucky from 2010-12. How exciting is it to come into a wide receivers room that has a ton of talent like NC State? Phillips: "I'm very excited to have an opportunity to come to NC State with Coach [Dave] Doeren, have an opportunity to come back and work with Coach [Kurt] Roper and Coach [Tim] Beck. "Then I also got a chance to talk with Coach George McDonald on the way out. As I was leaving for my interview getting on the plane, he was actually on a plane leaving to head to his new job. He and I had an opportunity to talk about the room, and I could hear and feel the excitement in his voice." I know your legal name is Joe, but I've seen you called Joker everywhere so what is the origin story of that nickname? Phillips "Not much to it. A lot of people think it's about my personality, but it's not. I do have a joking personality and love to have fun, but the nickname came when my dad's name was Joe, my name was Joe, so my grandfather picked the name. He didn't want to say Joe and both of us come running, so as an infant, he nicknamed me Joker. It's really the only name I've ever known. "I try to use it in recruiting a lot more — using my first name, more than Phillips. Coach Joker instead of Coach Phillips. One of the things I've learned in recruiting is sales. You have to be able to sell. If they can't remember your name, it's going to be hard for you to sell them in the end. They never forget Coach Joker." You've crossed paths in your coaching history with offensive coordinator Tim Beck and running backs coach Kurt Roper. Could you tell us a little bit about your history with those two guys specifically? Phillips "Being with a guy, you understand what that guy's coaching style is, what he's looking for. Tim Beck, obviously, is the boss of the room. He and I were together at Ohio State. I was an analyst there when he was the co-offensive coordinator. We actually worked closely together. I actually sat in his meet- ings because I thought it was easier for me to learn the offense as he put it in and he installed it with the quarterbacks, so I spent most of my time in the quarterback meetings watching him teach and watching the way he carried himself. That's the reason why I felt really comfortable coming here with Tim. "Coach Roper, this is our fourth time together. … He and I became friends the day he walked on campus at Kentucky [in 2005 as the quarterbacks coach while Phillips was the offensive coordinator and wideouts coach]." What do you bring as a recruiter to the wide receiver room? Phillips: "I think the knowledge of how to evaluate, and then how to sell. One thing we have here is we have an excellent head coach. We have some excellent players. We have the ACC. And then we have a great institution here. Those things will help me sell this place." — Matt Carter SITTING DOWN WITH: Wide Receivers Coach And Assistant Head Coach Joker Phillips Etch your name into Wolfpack History WOLF TRACKS DONOR WALL Help fulfill the vision by leaving your legacy etched on the Wolf Tracks wall in the newly renovated Walk of Fame & History in Reynolds Coliseum. • Orders will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Orders cannot be filled after the 700 spaces are sold. • You will receive a confirmation email within 30 days of your order. Please review it carefully. If corrections are required, please notify us at majorgifts@wolfpackclub.com or 919-865-1500. • In order for the Wolfpack Club to accommodate requests for plaques to be placed next to each other, these orders must be placed together with proper instructions. Every effort will be made to accommodate these requests. • Your message must fit within the spaces provided on the plaque size. • All text will be a standard size, font, and style. Greek letters and other symbols not found on a standard keyboard may not be used. • The Wolfpack Club reserves the right to exclude orders that it deems to contain inappropriate language. • The Wolfpack Club will determine the final placement of all plaques. • Message area is 330 characters maximum, with a signature line of 75 characters. Plaques are $5,000, payable over 5 years to the Wolfpack Club. NC State Student Aid Association | PO Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627 | 919.865.1500 | www.wolfpackclub.com To secure your Wolf Tracks, please visit www.wolfpackclub.com/wolftracks. wolf tracks half page.indd 1 8/21/2018 10:45:16 AM PHILLIPS