UT Permian Basin Athletics announced the hiring of Justin Phillips as the Falcons' new Head Baseball Coach in August 2024. In two seasons as head coach at UTPB, Phillips has a career record of 34-66.
UTPB finished its 2026 season 14-36 both overall and in the Lone Star Conference. During opening weekend, sophomore Damian Robles pitched 5.2 innings allowing just three hits, the Falcons only allowed four hits as a team, and freshman outfielder Daylon Jefcoats delivered a two-run single to center field with two outs in the fifth inning as UTPB won the final game of the season-opening series against No. 12 Angelo State University (Feb. 1) with a 2-0 shutout victory. It was the first time the Rams had been shut out since May 10, 2024. The UTPB defense had three runners caught stealing and one pickoff, and did not commit a single error for the first time in the last eight games against Angelo State. In all during opening weekend, Jefcoats hit a home run and a triple during his collegiate debut and had the game-winning hit in the series finale, setting the tone for a great freshman season. After earning his first-career win against Angelo State, Coach Phillips also earned his first-career wins against Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Feb. 15) and St. Edward's University (Feb. 23), winning game three of each series during back-to-back weekends and leading UTPB to a 4-10 record 14 games into the season, surpassing the Falcons' win total through 22 games from a year ago. Halfway through the season (game 25), Robles improved to 5-1 on the year after helping UTPB to a 6-3 win in game one vs. Cameron University (Mar. 16). Six of UTPB's eight wins on the season came in a game in which Robles started. Later on in the Falcons’ 17-6 win in game one vs. No. 17 St. Mary's University (Apr. 18), back-to-back home runs by Jefcoats and Alden Quintanilla in the first inning set the tone as the teams combined for eight home runs in the game. The highlight of the weekend for the Falcons was Jefcoats, who in the win hit a two-run home run in each of the first two innings and wrapped up the scoring with a grand slam in the sixth inning to finish the game with three home runs and eight RBI's. Both Jefcoats’ home run and RBI totals were a new UTPB record for a single game. In addition, Jefcoats tied for seventh in program history with home runs in a single season with nine as a true freshman. As a team, UTPB's five home runs in the game vs. StMU tied for the second most in program history. Laslty, UTPB won game one of its final series of the season at Lubbock Christian University (Apr. 24) with an 8-6 comeback win featuring a go-ahead two-run double by Jefcoats in the seventh inning and five strong innings out of the bullpen by Robles, who blanked LCU in each of the final four innings to pick up his team-leading sixth win of the season. It was UTPB's first road win since March 8 and was just the fourth win in program history for UTPB against LCU at Hays Field. Following the conclusion of the season, Jefcoats was named the 2026 Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year. In addition, junior shortstop Gael Bernal joined Jefcoats as a First-Team All-LSC selection while junior third baseman Carlos Chavez was named to the second-team. It was a program record for players to earn First-Team All-LSC in one season. In addition, Jefcoats was the first LSC specialty award winner in program history. Off the field, the Falcons certainly took care of business in the classroom, ranking third among men's team and fourth overall among UTPB teams with a 3.42 during the Fall 2025 semester.
In Coach Phillips' first season leading the Falcons in 2025, UTPB finished 20-30 overall and 19-29 in the LSC, which was good for ninth place. After starting the year just 3-19, the Falcons went 17-11 after that to reach the 20-win mark. The Falcons did not lose a series in the month of April and lost just one of their final seven series of the season. In addition, they finished the year by winning 11 of their last 17 games and won at least two games in six out of their last seven series.
Phillips served as the Head Baseball Coach at Trinity Christian School in Lubbock, Texas, for a total of eight seasons (2015-2022). He was previously an Assistant Baseball Coach/Pitching Coach at NCAA Division II Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, for three seasons (2012-2014). Phillips is currently an Associate Scout for the Kansas City Royals.
In 2007 as a player at Harding University, Phillips helped put together one of the best seasons in Harding history where he became the first All-American selection for the Bison. He earned both Gulf South Conference and South Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors as he compiled a 10-3 record with a 1.21 earned run average. Phillips threw 96.1 innings, led the nation with 121 strikeouts, and held opponents to a batting average of .178. He had five shutouts and 11 complete games across 13 starts.
Phillips continued his career by signing a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals. After a span of two and a half seasons of Independent Baseball, Phillips retired in order to pursue his passion further and became a baseball coach.
As a student at Harding University in 2008, Phillips found himself on the Dean's List while graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management.
Phillips spent his first two seasons at Delta State University as a graduate student, where he furthered his education pursuing a Master of Business Administration focusing on Finance. Phillips volunteered the third year as the pitching coach under the direction of Mike Kinnison.
The Waco, Texas, native is married to the former Lindsey Price from Pampa, Texas, who is a licensed cosmetologist and make-up artist.
Justin and Lindsey have four children: Benjamin, Matthew, Price-Shane and Oaklin-Grace.
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Phillips at UTPB
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| Year |
Season at UTPB |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
Conference Finish/Accolades |
| 2025 |
1st |
20-30 |
19-29 |
9th of 13 LSC |
| 2026 |
2nd |
14-36 |
14-36 |
13th of 14 LSC |
| Overall |
34-66 (.340 pct.) |
33-65 (.337 pct.) |
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