Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Mourns the Loss of Former Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips
May 26, 2026 | General
STILLWATER – Terry Don Phillips, who served as Oklahoma State's athletic director from 1994-2002, passed away this week. He was 78.Hired in October 1994, Phillips arrived at OSU in August of 1995 after completing his second year of law school at Arkansas. From there, his tenure transformed the mindset of OSU.
Phillips challenged the Oklahoma State family to carry greater expectations for Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics. He sold the vision and led the way for a fund-raising campaign that resulted in the renovation of Gallagher-Iba Arena and plans for a major update to Lewis Field – OSU's then-outdated football stadium.
His tenure also saw the construction of Cowgirl Stadium for OSU's softball team and the launch of OSU's equestrian program.
"Terry Don's vision for our athletic department inspired a new and greater belief in what we could be," Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said. "He played a significant role in moving Oklahoma State Athletics forward and we will be forever grateful."
Under his oversight, the Cowboy basketball team continued its success under coach Eddie Sutton by reaching the NCAA Final Four in 1995 and the Elite Eight in 2000, the football team saw the beginning of its resurgence after he hired coach Les Miles in 2001 and the men's golf team claimed NCAA team titles in 1995 and 2000. A total of 10 OSU student-athletes claimed individual NCAA championships.
"He had the vision to know what we needed to do before we did," said Senior Associate Athletic Director Larry Reece. "He showed us through the renovation of Gallagher-Iba Arena that we could do big things here. Terry Don is the reason we all wear orange. Before his arrival, we seem to wear every color but orange. His message was 'next time I'll wear orange.'"
In 2002 Phillips left Oklahoma State for Clemson, where he went on to promote Dabo Swinney to head football coach and oversee the expansion of Memorial Stadium before his retirement in 2012.
Before Oklahoma State, Phillips was an all-state football player from Longview, Texas, a two-year starter as a 195-pound defensive tackle for Arkansas, a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas and a defensive line coach and defensive front coordinator at Virginia Tech.
Phillips then held assistant athletic director positions at Missouri and Florida before assuming senior administrative duties at Southwestern Louisiana and Arkansas.
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