Ottumwa Community Schools – Philip (Phil) Lite has been named as the new Ottumwa High School Head Football Coach. Phil was hired by the Ottumwa Community School District in 2021 as a Physical Education Teacher at Ottumwa High School and Assistant High School Football Coach.
Throughout the last three football seasons, Coach Lite has brought a tremendous amount of experience and enhancement to the athletics program. Prior to coming to Ottumwa, Coach Lite was the Head Coach at Staley High School in Kansas City for five seasons. He led them to a State Title in 2017, two Semi-Finals in 2016 and 2019, and a Quarter Final in 2018. Before taking the helm as the Head Coach at Staley he was an assistant playing a vital role in the creation of the program as they started a brand new program in 2008.
Lite is a graduate of William Penn University where he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Physical Education. He continued his studies to obtain a Masters in Education from Northwest Missouri State University. Lite has many years coaching at the high school and collegiate level, as well as a clinician speaker and presenter throughout the midwest at various coaching clinics.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to take over the Ottumwa Bulldog Football Program. I’m excited to work with our kids and coaches. We have done some good things the last few years and I’m ready to take it to the next level. I’m excited about the district’s commitment to football and our youth programming. I want to thank Brandon Brooks and Mr. McGrory for the opportunity. I look forward to getting started. Go ‘dogs.”
Coach Lite and his wife, Rochelle, moved back to Iowa in 2021 to be close to their family farm and coach Football in Ottumwa.
