Phil Longo

Position: Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Experience: 2 Years Alma Mater: Rowan University, 1992

The Saluki offense has ranked among the most prolific in the country during the past two seasons under offensive coordinator Phil Longo, excelling with a balanced attack between the run and the pass, and a system that is tailored to the strengths of the personnel.

In 2009, Southern Illinois ranked No. 7 in the nation in scoring offense (averaging 34.0 points per game) and 21st in total offense. The statistic was even more impressive considering SIU lost its starting quarterback, Chris Dieker, midway through the season and turned the reigns over to freshman Paul McIntosh. Both quarterbacks prospered in Longo's system with Dieker excelling in the passing game, while McIntosh shined in the rushing attack.

Phil Longo's 2009 offense averaged 34.0 points per game.

One of biggest beneficiaries of Longo's tutelage was running back Deji Karim, a former backup for Southern, who became one of the nation's leading rushers his senior year. In fact, Karim finished third in the balloting for the prestigious Payton Award after a season in which he rushed for 1,694 yards, 18 TDs and a 7.1 average.

In 2008, Longo's first season, he directed a Saluki attack that featured a 1,000-yard rusher in Larry Warner and a passing game that was ranked No. 2 in the conference. These accomplishments were all the more impressive since Southern had to replace all of its skill position starters that season.

Prio to SIU, Longo was the offensive coordinator under Bubba Schweigert at University of Minnesota-Duluth (2006-07). UMD's offense ranked at or near the top in most offensive categories including second in passing offense both seasons. Longo mentored quarterback Ted Schlafke, who holds all of UMD's passing records and went on to win the 2008 Division II National Championship. Schlafke currently serves as SIU's football intern.

From 2004-05, Longo served as head coach at LaSalle. During his time at the LaSalle helm, Longo produced two MAAC Offensive Player of the Year award winners, five All-Americans (a first for the LaSalle football program) and 13 All-MAAC selections. His 2004 offense ranked second in the nation among Division I-AA Mid-Major schools. In addition, he oversaw an offensive unit which established 29 school records and finished first in the MAAC.

Under Longo, SIU has had one of the nation's most productive offenses the last two seasons.

In 2001, William Paterson sported one of the top offenses in Division III. The Pioneer offense finished with the third-highest scoring average in school history while equaling or setting 37 school records.

As head coach at Parsippany Hills, Longo took over a program with a winning percentage of .217 over 33 years. He led the Vikings to their first appearance ever in the NJ State playoffs and their first undefeated championship season. Longo left as the winningest coach in school history. In 1999, his team competed in and won the 11th highest scoring game in the history of high school football in the U.S. Longo earned NJ Star Ledger and Daily Record Coach of the Year honors in 1998-99 and was awarded the Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity Award by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Longo began his playing career at East Stroudsburg University, where he played quarterback in 1987. The following year, he transferred to Rowan University, where he played from 1988-1991 under the tutelage of John Bunting (former defensive coordinator for the 1998 Superbowl Champion St. Louis Rams) and KC Keeler (head coach at the University of Delaware). As a running back at Rowan, he was a member of the school's first New Jersey Athletic Conference championship and NCAA Division III playoff team as a senior. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Rowan in 1992.