Hometown Hillsdale: Scott Phillips, ’77

Written by Stephanie Gordon

Not every “Hometown Hillsdale” alum grows up in Hillsdale’s very own Broadlawn on Hillsdale Street. Scott Phillips, ’77, is the youngest son of former Hillsdale College President J. Donald Phillips. He recalls playing many rounds of basketball in Broadlawn’s driveway and flag football in the backyard. He remembers hitting golf balls with clubs gifted by Frank “Muddy” Waters well over Broadlawn’s chimney. A true Hillsdalian in all the ways, Scott never ventured away from his beloved Hillsdale.

The Phillips family moved to Hillsdale from Lansing, Michigan, in 1952 after Dr. Phillips became the College’s 11th president. Dr. Phillips served as president for nearly 20 years, retiring in 1971. According to the College, Dr. Phillips strongly emphasized human relations as the primary characteristic of Hillsdale College. He also helped the College avoid financial collapse and oversaw the construction of a number of new buildings on campus. “My dad was so smart and so incredible at a million different things,” Scott said of his late father. “And my mother was the ultimate hostess. What a wonderful first lady she was.”

Scott’s passion for sports only grew throughout the years. He attended Hillsdale High School and played football, basketball, golf, and tennis. Tennis was his true love, and he brought his tennis skills to Hillsdale College in 1973. “I knew I wanted to come to Hillsdale and play tennis,” said Scott. “I didn’t look anywhere else. It was always Hillsdale.”

Scott played doubles for the Chargers. He recalled traveling to Northwood University for a GLIAC conference tournament, which also happened to be the same day of Hillsdale College’s commencement. “Talk about bad timing,” said Scott. “Our number-one player was a senior and wanted to walk for graduation. I was on the last doubles team as a freshman and our coach asked me to fill in at #1 singles against the #1 from Northwood. This was a huge challenge for me, but I won the first set 6-3, and lost the second set 3-6. I lost the third set, but played the best match of my life.”

The business administration major was also actively involved with the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity, and currently sits on their alumni board. After graduation, Scott began working for County National Bank (CNB) in Hillsdale. He married his high school sweetheart, Nita, in 1978. The couple went on to have two children, Ryan and Kyle. 

After working various positions at CNB for two years, he spent nine years working for Quality Industries in Hillsdale. “I had opportunities to lead me outside of Hillsdale, but thank God that never worked out,” Scott laughed. Since 1989, Scott has worked as a realtor for Coldwell Banker Groves Real Estate in Hillsdale.

Scott became especially well-known in the Hillsdale community when he joined Bob Flynn on WCSR’s air waves 25 years ago. The duo broadcasted local high school football and basketball games to Hillsdale and beyond. They also broadcasted Chargers basketball and football for several years. Scott described the experience as “incredible.”

Both Scott and Bob broadcasted 920 games and traveled 41,000 miles together. The duo became an iconic presence on the airwaves in Hillsdale and the surrounding communities. Both men hung up their headphones in the spring of 2024. 

In addition to broadcasting football and basketball games, Scott also coached the Hillsdale High School men’s and women’s tennis teams for 18 years. “This past year I retired,” said Scott. “I had a ball coaching tennis. The friendships and growth you witness as a coach are special. The students and I would have never known each other if we didn’t have tennis. The athletes loved being there, and it was a great experience.” 

Scott continues to serve the Hillsdale community in multiple ways. He is a member of the Elks Lodge and sits on the Hillsdale County Conservation Board and the Hillsdale County Board of Realtors. He was also active in bringing the Fields of Dreams, a local sports complex, to life in 1998. 

“Hillsdale and Hillsdale College mean so much to me,” Scott said. “With the friends that I have made, to growing up at Broadlawn, to spending endless hours at the field house thanks to Frank ‘Muddy’ Waters—I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything.”

In 2022, Scott lost his beloved wife, Nita. She was a longtime educator at Hillsdale Community Schools who loved teaching children to read. In 2023, Scott worked tirelessly with the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, establishing a memorial in Nita’s honor. Just under 600 books were donated to Hillsdale Community Schools. 

Now mostly retired, Scott plans to enjoy time with his family and Hillsdale’s great outdoors. He will always call Hillsdale home. “I grew up here,” Scott concluded. “Hillsdale is my home and I love it here.”

Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of Virtue and Valor: The Official Blog of Hillsdale College. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys paleo baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, and breaking a sweat at the gym.

Published in June 2024