Longo is considered one of college football's top offensive minds, despite an untimely exit this past season from Wisconsin, veteran play-caller Phil Longo is on the verge of his first-ever Football Bowls Subdivision head coaching post.
Several sources tell FootballScoop that Longo is emerging as the top target in Sam Houston State's search to replace K.C. Keeler, who departed earlier this coaching cycle for the head job at Temple in Keeler's native state of Philadelphia.
It would mark a return to the Texas program for Longo, who served on the Bearkats staff from 2014-16.
Previously the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, as well as at North Carolina under Mack Brown, Longo was Luke Fickell's offensive play-caller for two seasons before being relieved of those duties late in the 2024 season.
Since starting his career as a New Jersey high school coach in the late 1990s, Longo since has climbed the coaching ranks with 25 years as a collegiate coach -- all but a two-year stint atop the LaSalle program as an offensive assistant.
Sam Houston State is scheduled to open its 2025 season at home against UNLV and also has road trips to Hawaii, the University of Texas and Oregon State on the slate.