Former Oklahoma State Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips Passes Away

Former Oklahoma State Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips has passed away at 78 years of age.

He was a man who left an indelible mark on the university and helped transform the Cowboys into the Power conference program we know today.

Current Athletic Director Chad Weiberg reflected on Phillips’ lasting impact: “Terry Don's vision for our athletic department inspired a new and greater belief in what we could be. He played a significant role in moving Oklahoma State Athletics forward and we will be forever grateful.”

That vision was exactly what Oklahoma State needed.

OSU would not be what it is today without Terry Don Phillips. He didn’t just manage the department, he thought big and turned Oklahoma State into a serious Power conference athletic program.

Phillips was an athletic director in the truest sense.

While many focus only on football and men’s basketball, he invested heavily in making all sports better and building a championship culture across the board.

Senior Associate Athletic Director and longtime Public Address Announcer Larry Reece shared a heartfelt tribute: “He had the vision to know what we needed to do before we did. He showed us through the renovation of Gallagher-Iba Arena that we could do big things here.”

Reece continued, “Terry Don is the reason we all wear orange. Before his arrival, we seem to wear every color but orange. His message was ‘next time I'll wear orange.’”

That attention to identity and pride mattered.

Phillips sold a bold vision and led one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in school history.

That effort delivered the major renovation of Gallagher-Iba Arena and laid the groundwork for what would become a much-needed update to the football stadium, then known as Lewis Field, which was badly outdated at the time.

His tenure also included major facility additions that strengthened Olympic sports.

He oversaw the construction of Cowgirl Stadium for the softball team and the launch of OSU’s highly successful equestrian program, moves that expanded opportunities for female athletes and broadened the department’s reach.

On the football side, Phillips made one of the most important hires in modern OSU history when he brought in Les Miles as head coach. That move sparked the turnaround of the program.

Miles had Mike Gundy on his staff, and when Miles left, Gundy stepped in as head coach, beginning the long-running era of success.

In 2002, Phillips left Stillwater for Clemson, where he continued his legacy. He promoted Dabo Swinney to head football coach and oversaw the significant expansion of Memorial Stadium before retiring in 2012.

Terry Don Phillips’ influence stretches far beyond any single facility or hire.

He changed the mindset at Oklahoma State. He proved that the Cowboys could dream bigger, build bigger, and compete at the highest level.