Phillip Collie

Phillip Glenn Collie was born in Guntersville on April 13, 1957, to Paul and Bernice Collie. He has three sisters, Doilene, Willa Sue, and Paula. The family lived in the Cottonville/Hebron area of Marshall County. Sadly, their father passed away when Phillip was only nine, and their mother raised all four children alone. Three of the four went on to earn college degrees.

Phillip attended the Hebron School where he got his start in athletics. Mr. William Barnard Baker, the Principal, coached an elementary softball team that played Warrenton, Whitesville, Swearingin, Pleasant Grove, and other elementary school teams. In 1969, Phillip went to Claysville School and played basketball and baseball for 3 years under Coach Harry Douglas. The coach taught the fundamental skills, love of competition, and motivation that would propel Phillip to play at Guntersville HS. He always listened to MCSHOF Broadcaster Bill Yancy calling GHS games on the radio and dreamed of the day that he would be a Wildcat. Phillip entered GHS in 1972 and became a member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams until his graduation in 1975. As a senior, he played basketball for MCSHOF Coach Jim Rhodes. The Cats finished the year with a 31-2 record and won both the Marshall Co. Championship and the 3A State Championship. Phillip also played baseball for the Wildcats. As centerfielder, he had a .350 batting average, was selected to the All-Marshall County Team, and played in the 1975 Huntsville Lions’ Club East-West All-Star Game. After graduation, Phillip attended Snead State for two years. His goal was to become a coach and he began taking steps to pursue that dream.

In 1977-78, Phillip worked as a volunteer assistant for the Wildcats under MCSHOF Head Coach Jackie Thrower. The team finished 30-2 and were Marshall County Champions. Phillip then enrolled at Auburn University and worked as a counselor and coach for the Sonny Smith Basketball Camp and as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Tigers. The team finished second in the SEC and made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 1984-85, Phillip served as a Graduate Assistant for MCSHOF Head Coach Bill Jones at Jacksonville State University. The Gamecocks went 16-0 in the Gulf-South Conference and won both the Conference Championship and the NCAA Division II National Championship.

From 1983-95, Phillip served as Head Basketball Coach at Mortimer Jordan HS, Pinson HS, Fort Payne HS, and Buckhorn HS. His Buckhorn teams were Madison County Champions and Area Champs for 2 years and the 5A Boys State Champions in 1995. Coach Collie earned County, Area, Region, Huntsville Times, and State Coach of the Year Awards. In 1996, Coach Collie returned to GHS as Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Principal. During his tenure, the Wildcats won 3 Area and 3 Regional Championships, the Regional and Marshall County Tournaments, and were the 1996-97 Class 4A State Runner-up, losing to Alexandria by 3 points in the finals. In addition to basketball, Phillip also coached boys’ tennis, winning 5 County Championships and 5 finishes in the State’s top 5.

Phillip is married to Patricia Duncan Collie, and they have 3 children, Clayton, Austin Elizabeth, and Cavin. Clay was All-County and All-Area in football and basketball and section tennis champion. Austin was a member of the 2005 State Championship tennis team and earned a scholarship to play at Snead. Cavin excelled in football and won 2nd place in the high jump on the GHS State Championship Track & Field Team. Phillip also has 5 grandchildren. He is a leader in his community, serving on the boards of Christian Men’s Job Corps, Child Advocacy, Tennessee Valley Family Services (President), and President of Methodist Men.