Phil McClintock, the longtime architect of the Friends University men’s basketball program, announced this week that he will relinquish his coaching duties to assume the role of Director of Athletics at Ottawa University.
A distinguished coaching legacy
During his three‑year tenure, McClintock guided the Falcons to back‑to‑back appearances in the NAIA National Championship Tournament, a feat that culminated in a 26‑7 record and a peak national ranking of No. 14. The season also earned him the 2024‑25 KCAC Coach of the Year honor.
Under his guidance the team posted two consecutive KCAC regular‑season runner‑up finishes, each marked by an identical 18‑4 conference record, and he mentored five all‑conference selections, including the league’s Co‑Player of the Year, KJ Spiller.
A 2009 graduate of Ottawa University and a member of its Braves Athletic Hall of Fame, McClintock leaves a program that has not seen such sustained success since the 2013‑14 campaign, reshaping the school’s athletic landscape.
A new chapter at Ottawa University
His move signals a strategic shift for both institutions. At Ottawa, he will oversee a broader athletic portfolio while bringing a proven winning culture to the university’s sports administration, aiming to replicate the momentum he generated at Friends.