AUBURN, Ala. – Faith, family and football.
For Philip Montgomery, that’s what matters. That’s what is important to him. As an offensive coordinator in the SEC, he spends a lot of his time in the office or on the football field or out on the road recruiting. But when he does get away, it’s all about family.
“I wish I had more hobbies,” Montgomery said. “My wife tells me I need more hobbies. But honestly, when we get time away from here, I want to go spend it with my wife and my kids. Whether that’s going to the lake, watching a movie together, playing cards together, going out on the grill – it’s just spending quality time with my family.”
Montgomery, who accepted the Auburn offensive coordinator job in December, comes to The Plains from Tulsa where he was the head coach for the last eight seasons.
His time at Tulsa might not have ended the way he had hoped, but Montgomery is proud of the work they did there. In eight seasons, he led the Golden Hurricane to four bowl games, including a 10-3 record in 2016 and back-to-back bowl appearances in 2020 and 2021. During his tenure, he coached 44 all-conference performers and three All-Americans.
More importantly, Montgomery got to do it with his family by his side … literally.
“We look back at our time there as a really positive thing,” he said. “We had some great years there, got to experience some things that not everybody would get to. My son played for me. My daughter was a college cheerleader and a flyer. That experience, to have all my kids on the field at the same time with me at a Division I level – that probably never happens.
“We had some really special times and special moments there. I think that has prepared us for this next chapter in our life, and we’re excited about that one.”