Clinton softball head coach Kim Phillip steps down

CLINTON — Kim Phillip, fresh off a 30-win season and Lenawee County Softball Coach of the Year award, has stepped down as the Redwolves' head coach.

Phillip, who played at Clinton and spent seven years as an assistant coach and 12 seasons as head coach, said she intends to spend more time watching her daughter play softball in college and son play high school sports.

“I feel good about it,” she said Monday.

Clinton superintendent Kevin Beazley said Phillip, a teacher in the district, has made a tremendous impact on the Clinton community.

“Coach Phillip has been an integral part of our community, leading our teams to numerous victories and championships,” he said.

Before stepping aside, Phillip will coach in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association All-Star game on July 17 at Davenport University.

Phillip graduated from Clinton 1997, but not before leading the softball team to league, district and regional titles in 1994, 1996 and 1997. She was named Miss Softball / Pitcher and was an All-American.

She played in college at Central Michigan University and Concordia University. She was doing her student-teaching at Milan when she began coaching softball. She was head coach for two varsity seasons at Saline, then returned to Clinton to coach in 2006 as an assistant to Al Roberts, who was her high school coach.

“I owe much of the program’s success to Al and every assistant that’s ever supported me along the way,” Phillip said.

Marissa Sevenish, Roger Meyers, Ken Harris, Lisa Roberts and AC Fair are among those who helped her along the way.

“Once a part of Clinton softball, always a part,” Phillip said.

Phillip compiled a record of 323-80 at Clinton, winning 10 district titles, five Tri-County Conference titles, three LCAA titles and three regional championships. She’s served 10 years on the coaches association All-State board representing southeast Michigan.

Phillip has coached her daughter, Kendall, the last few seasons but now intends to watch her when she continues her academic and softball career at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her son will be an incoming freshman at Clinton this fall.

“Her contributions to Clinton softball will be remembered for years to come,” Beazley said

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Clinton softball head coach Kim Phillip steps down