Football
- Title:
- Assistant Football Coach (Defensive Line)
- Phone:
- 325-3470
Twitter: @PhelpsDLCoach
Jeff Phelps enters his third season as the Bulldogs' defensive line coach in 2022. He joined the Bulldogs on February 4, 2020, after three seasons at Washington State (2017-19) as defensive line coach. He is no stranger to the state of Mississippi as his mother grew up in West Point, less than 30 miles from Starkville.
In 2019, Phelps mentored Lamonte McDougle who was the Cougars highest-graded defensive interior lineman according to Pro Football Focus. McDougle was especially strong in the run game, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 with an 80.6 run-defense grade.
Will Rodgers III led the Cougars in sacks with 4.0 and was second in tackles for loss with 6.0. He racked up 25 total pressures per PFF, which ranked sixth in the conference among defensive interior linemen. Rodgers tied for the league lead in QB hits by a defensive interior lineman with five on the season.
Phelps’ 2018 defensive front anchored the Cougar “Speed D” that led the Pac-12 with 38.0 sacks, the ninth-most in Washington State single-season history, and finished second in the league with 88.0 tackles for loss. The defensive line featured just one returning starter but combined for 34.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks, led by All-Pac-12 second-team selection Logan Tago, who set career highs of 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The Cougars finished the season ranked third in the Pac-12 in rushing defense and No. 42 nationally in total defense.
In 2017, Phelps directed a defensive line that produced 45.5 tackles for loss and 20.0 sacks, helping the Cougar defense to rank in the top 20 in eight different categories. He also mentored Hercules Mata’afa to one of the finest seasons in program history as the redshirt-junior garnered Consensus All-America honors and was named the 2017 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. Mata’afa registered 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss and was named the Associated Press Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Phelps arrived in Pullman after six seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Minnesota (2011-16). During his final season there, the Gophers’ defense ranked 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, 14th in rushing yards allowed and 22nd in sacks.
During his six seasons in Minneapolis, Phelps was a part of five bowl teams and coached four players who earned All-Big Ten honors, including 2013 third team All-American Ra’Shede Hagemen, who was a 2014 second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
Phelps joined the Minnesota staff after spending five years coaching at Northern Illinois (2006-10). From 2008-10, he coached the Huskies’ defensive line. In 2006-07, Phelps was responsible for coaching the defensive tackles.
Phelps coached defensive end Larry English at NIU. English went on to be named the Mid-American Conference’s Most Valuable Player twice and was the 2008 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, going to the San Diego Chargers.
Phelps began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State (1999). He then spent three seasons at DePauw (2000-02), where he coached the running backs for two seasons before going to the defensive side of the ball to coach linebackers. He then spent three seasons at Hillsdale (Mich.) College, where he coached the defensive line from 2003-05 before joining the staff at NIU.
Phelps was a second team All-MAC player at outside linebacker for Ball State following his senior season in 1997. He was also an honorable mention All-MAC selection as a junior. The Chicago native holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State.
Phelps is a graduate of Crete-Monee High School, where he was a three-sport standout, earning seven letters – football (2), wrestling (2), track and field (3).
He and his wife, Tyla, have a son, Carsen, and a daughter, Harlyn.
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Education: Ball State, 1998 (B.S., Marketing)
Wife: Tyla
Children: Carsen, Harlyn
Birthdate: Nov. 30, 1976
2017-19: Washington State (Defensive Line)
2011-16: Minnesota (Defensive Line)
2008-10: Northern Illinois (Defensive Line)
2006-07: Northern Illinois (Defensive Tackles)
2003-05: Hillsdale College (Defensive Line)
2000-02: Depauw (Linebackers/Running Backs)
1999: Ball State (Graduate Assistant)
2020 Armed Forces Bowl (Mississippi State)
2019 Cheez-It Bowl (Washington State)
2018 Alamo Bowl (Washington State)
2017 Holiday Bowl (Washington State)
2016 Holiday Bowl (Minnesota)
2015 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2014 Citrus Bowl (Minnesota)
2013 Texas Bowl (Minnesota)
2012 Car Care Bowl (Minnesota)
2010 Humanitarian Bowl (Northern Illinois)
2009 International Bowl (Northern Illinois)
2008 Independence Bowl (Northern Illinois)
2006 Poinsettia Bowl (Northern Illinois)
