Sam Houston State fires football head coach Phil Longo midway through his second season after the Bearkats post a 1-7 start and finish with a 3-17 record across less than two seasons. The dismissal comes after the program failed to build on momentum from Longo’s earlier success.
Sources describe that Longo previously took over a team that went 10-3 and won the New Orleans Bowl in 2024, but results quickly deteriorate during his second season. The Athletic and Yahoo Sports also note a specific recent loss, including a 24-3 defeat to Missouri State, while CBS Sports points to offensive performance in Conference USA as a factor.
Overall, the outlets broadly agree on the timeline and the key record driving the decision, though they differ in which on-field details they foreground—such as the exact in-season start, the most recent game mentioned, and whether they highlight offensive rankings.
