Ranger Baseball Coaches Joe Phillips Head Baseball Coach Joe Phillips is in his 20th season as head coach of his alma-mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In 19 seasons at the helm of the Ranger baseball program, he has compiled a 444-491 career record and has won more games at Northwestern than any other coach in the Rangers’ athletic history. Last season, Phillips led Northwestern to a 13-26 record and to its 10th consecutive postseason appearance. Since Northwestern joined the Sooner Athletic Conference in 2001, the Rangers have made the postseason conference tournament each season, a feat that only one other conference team has experienced. In his 19-year stint as the Rangers’ head coach, he has turned in 10 winning seasons and has posted six seasons with more than 30 wins, including owning the program’s best season in 2001 with a 49-12 record. He has coached five all-Americans and has produced numerous professional prospects during his stay in Alva. Born and raised in Arkansas City, Kansas, Phillips has been a part of the Ranger baseball program since he arrived on campus in 1982. He played two seasons for the Rangers (1982-83), after completing two seasons at Cowley County (Kan.) Community College. The power-hitting first baseman started both seasons for Northwestern and holds the team record for most home runs in a game with three. After completing his eligibility as a player, Phillips turned to the coaching ranks where he began as a graduate assistant coach in 1984. He remained in that capacity until the summer 1988, when he was named the head coach. During the 2001 season, Phillips led the Rangers to several season bests. The squad set a record for most wins in a season with 49 and led the NAIA in batting average (.393) and runs scored (595). That same year, Northwestern achieved its highest NAIA national ranking, being rated seventh in the country. In his tenure, Phillips has coached five NAIA All-Americans, including two-time first-team All-American and Northwestern Sports Hall of Famer Tom Zanca. He also has produced three NAIA Academic All-Americans. Phillips obtained his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 1984 from Northwestern and later earned a master’s degree in education in 1988. Joe, and his wife, Tanya, have two sons, Jake (20), a sophomore at Northwestern Oklahoma State, and Pete (17) and a daughter, Taryn (14). Ryan Herrmann Student Assistant Coach Ryan Herrmann begins his second season on the Ranger coaching staff after returning to Northwestern after having pitched two years. Herrmann threw for the Rangers in 2003 and 2004 after transferring from Oklahoma State. During his first season as a Ranger (2002), Herrmann defeated every Sooner Athletic Conference team at least once and led the team in strikeouts with 59. It his two-year stint, he posted a 13-7 record on the mound while throwing 26 innings. He struck out 96 batters in 134 innings. From 2005-07, Herrmann served as a camp instructor at the famous Chandler Baseball Camp in Chandler, Okla. Herrmann is continuing work on his bachelor’s degree in health and fitness management. Scott Gurss Student Assistant Coach Scott Gurss begins steps into the coaching ranks after a two-year career as the Rangers’ first baseman. In 71 games played during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he recorded eight doubles, three home runs and 34 runs batted in during his Ranger career. Gurss, from Edmond, played two seasons at Carl Albert State College in Poteau before coming to Northwestern. He is the all-time hit leader at Deer Creek High School in Edmond where he hit .452. He is finishing his degree in health and sports science with a minor in history. Kyle Powell Student Assistant Coach After a two-year career behind the plate for the Rangers, Kyle Powell will begin his first season as a student assistant coach for Northwestern. Powell carried a .331 career average while playing from 2006-07. He hit 12 doubles, 12 home runs and tallied 74 runs batted in. Last season, he led the Rangers in hits (41), at bats (130), runs batted in (46) and tied for the team lead in home runs with seven. A native of Chelsea, Powell played two seasons at Coffeyville Community College (Kan.), where he hit .380 while playing first base. Powell was the Conference Hitter of the Year playing prep ball at Chelsea High School. Powell is continuing his work on a business administration degree. Gary Harley Student Assistant Coach Gary Harley begins his first semester at Northwestern as a student assistant coach. Harley comes to Northwestern after a year and a half of coaching experience at Colby (Kan.) Community College. During the summer of 2007, he helped coach the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Post 6 American Legion team. Prior to his coaching stints, Harley played outfield for a year each at Miles Community College in Miles City, Mont., and at Colby. Originally from Cheyenne, Wyo., Harley attended Cheyenne East High School. Harley currently is a junior at Northwestern and is working toward a degree in business administration.