By Greta Klein
Sports Editor
X: @gmklein32
Dedicated, admirable, respected, inspirational, and a workaholic is just the beginning when describing Phil Anderson and his exceptional coaching career.
After 44 years of coaching, Anderson made the decision to retire.
“There’s so much that he’s done for the game of basketball,” said McPherson boys basketball coach Kurt Kinnamon, who coached with Anderson at Lyons. “To be successful at every single stop and level that he’s been at is a testament to his basketball ability … It’s been high school boys, it’s been college boys, it’s been college girls, and every step of the way, he’s helped build a successful program.”
Anderson graduated from McPherson High School in 1976 and then attended Bethany College to continue his academic and athletic career. Although he realized he needed a degree and was interested in coaching, his initial goal was to play basketball.
“I knew after three years of playing that it would help me if I would get my foot in the door and help the staff at Bethany College as a student assistant,” Anderson said.
Since he planned to attend Bethany for five years anyway, he decided to bypass his senior year and be a student assistant for the next two years.
“(During) those two years, I really felt like (it) gave me a good basis to get my feet wet in the coaching profession,” Anderson said. “It would help me get my first job, because it’s obviously very competitive. I was really very fortunate to be able to go to Lyons High School.”
Anderson coached at Lyons for eight years while also being a social studies teacher. Being an assistant coach for two years under Terry Taylor, he then became the head coach with Kinnamon as his assistant. During his last season with the Lions, Anderson and his team were Class 3A state runner-up in 1989.
“Phil Anderson loved ugly basketball games,” Kinnamon said. “I learned as much that first year with him about basketball and how to build relationships with kids, the amount of preparation, and the time that it takes to be successful.”
After leaving Lyons, Anderson accepted a boys’ basketball head coach position at Salina South, but only stayed there for three years. Then, in 1991, Anderson joined Steve McClain at Hutchinson Community College to be his assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. In Anderson’s third and final season with McClain, the Blue Dragons were the 1994 NJCAA national champions.
“What’s ironic about that (being at HutchCC) is that my first two years (I) had the pleasure of coaching a great point guard named John Ontjes,” Anderson said.
While that wasn’t the first time Anderson had seen Ontjes play, it was the first time coaching him. Anderson’s and Ontjes’ paths crossed during the Adolph Rupp Tournament in Halstead when Ontjes played point guard at Nickerson High School and Anderson was a coach at Lyons. During the tournament, Lyons and Nickerson played each other, starting a long-lasting bond between Anderson and Ontjes.
“He always pushed me,” Ontjes said. “Always, spend extra time shooting just like he does for our program now. He’s always been a guy or coach who will stay as long as you want to shoot after practice or come in early to shoot. (Anderson) has always been that type of person who was always looking to help you as a player to get better.”
Following the HutchCC men’s national title, Anderson went across the street to Hutchinson High School, where he taught social studies and spent the following 12 years as the head boys basketball coach. Then in 2001, Anderson and the Salthawks went 25-0 and won the Class 6A state championship.
Sean Bueford, a player for that undefeated team, discussed how Anderson was able to motivate his players to work hard and be coachable. Bueford also talked about Anderson’s belief in him as a player and the way he challenged Bueford.
“I was a kid who was not the most talented,” Bueford said. “I was athletic, and he saw potential in me. “Somehow, he was able to convince me that I should be one of the best rebounders in the league (without playing any varsity minutes). And sure enough, I was one of the top five rebounders in our league my senior year. He really made me believe, and was willing to put the work in.”
After an extraordinary season, Anderson led his team back to the state championship in 2002, going 22-3 and finishing 6A runner-up. Their three losses were all against Wichita East, which the Salthawks played in the championship game, falling short by three points.
Anderson decided to resign in 2006 and sat out of coaching for a year. But it wasn’t long before Anderson received another call asking him to be the head coach for eighth-grade boys at Hutchinson Middle School.
“I went to my best friend, Coach Nac (Dan Naccarato), and asked him if he would be my assistant,” Anderson said. “He said ‘Yes’, so for the next eight years, we coached together at Hutchinson Middle School, for the boys basketball team at HMS-8. That has to be the highlight of the entire coaching career. We had fun during, and obviously, one of my dear friends now, but we had a lot of fun doing that.”
While Anderson enjoyed his time as head coach at HMS-8, Ontjes called Anderson, asking him to come back across the street to be on his coaching staff. So in 2014, Anderson accepted the assistant coach position with Ontjes while still teaching at HHS for two years. Then in 2016, Anderson retired from teaching and became a full-time assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at HutchCC.
“I’ve looked up to him in the coaching profession,” said Ontjes who’s son Max, played for Anderson at HMS-8 . “I’ve tried to follow a lot of what he taught me and what I learned through being an assistant with him. (Anderson) is just somebody that I’ve looked up to ever since I got into coaching.”
Since being with the HutchCC women’s basketball team and under Ontjes, they have had eight Jayhawk Conference Championships, eight trips to the NJCAA Tournament, an NJCAA runner-up in 2015, and national champions in 2024.
Anderson expresses to his athletes and coaching staff that the key to being successful is through being diligent.
“I think the thing he probably taught me most was hard work,” Kinnamon said. “If you don’t put in the time, you’re not going to be successful.”
Anderson’s influence will be missed by many past players, along with the coaching staffs he’s been a part of.
“Going into battle was very enjoyable to me,” Ontjes said. “I knew our team would be prepared with coach Anderson. I’m going to miss him a lot. (I) had a lot of great memories to share with him. Just happy that he can relax and enjoy retirement.”
With Anderson’s coaching history and accomplishments, his integrity is not disregarded by anyone. The impact that Anderson has made on the game of basketball at all levels is a unique role that few coaches can say they have done.
“He’s one of those guys that when he walks in the room, he has this credibility because of his success,” Kinnamon said. “If a player wants to get better and they want to have a good team, they understand that he knows how to do that. He’s one of those guys that when he talks, you listen.”
