John McPhail has been appointed head coach of the University of Texas at Arlington’s Lady Movin’ Mavs women’s wheelchair basketball team, a move that signals a new chapter for the program.
A Legacy Reimagined
McPhail’s journey in wheelchair basketball spans more than a decade, from his early days as a player for the Movin’ Mavs men’s program to his recent success coaching the Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks to back‑to‑back national titles.
After longtime head coach Morgan Wood stepped aside to focus on family, McPhail stepped in on an interim basis, guiding the team to the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament championship game in April 2026.
His playing career includes a gold medal with Australia at the 2010 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Birmingham and a stint on the Australian Paralympic team at the Tokyo Games, as well as professional experience in Germany with Köln 99ers and the Rhine River Rhinos.
McPhail credits his wife Jillian and his late mother Sue for their unwavering support as he transitions from player to coach, a personal narrative that underscores the human side of his leadership.