Men's Basketball

Head Coach Paul Phillips

Men's Basketball Office
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA
Phone: 508-793-7430
Fax: 508-793-8819
Email

Now in his second stint at Clark University, Paul W. Phillips will begin his 11th season with the men’s basketball program. Phillips hopes to pick up where he left off during his first tour of duty and continue building on the rich tradition that is Clark basketball.

In his first term at Clark (1996-2004), Phillips quickly rebuilt the Cougar program and re-established Clark as one of the top basketball teams in New England and nationally. He guided the squad to four NEWMAC championships (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003), including four NCAA Tournament berths (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003) and two straight trips to the Elite Eight (2001, 2002). Additionally, he directed the 1999-2000 squad to the ECAC New England Division III Tournament. In recognition of the team’s impressive turnaround, Phillips earned NEWMAC Coach of the Year honors after capturing the program’s first conference championship (1999) in 11 years. In his 10 years at Clark, he compiled an impressive 163-104 record and amassed an overall career mark of 329-203 in 20 years as a head coach.

Phillips, a former 20-year teacher and guidance counselor at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Mass., has always been committed to education. He was recently named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Committee on Academics. Phillips has established a weekly reading program at Woodland Elementary (formerly The All School), instituted a math tutoring program at the University Park Campus School, and created the B1 - B2 clinics, which preaches "Books First - Basketball second," during his tenure. He also received the John Lund Award in 1998 for his community service efforts.

A 1976 graduate of Assumption College, Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree with a teaching certification in history. He later received a master’s degree in counseling from Worcester State College in 1989.

Associate Head Coach John Ginnity '01

John Ginnity ’01 enters his sixth season and second stint on the men’s basketball coaching staff. He will act as Associate Head Coach after serving as an assistant coach at Assumption College in 2005-06.

Prior to Assumption, Ginnity served as Clark’s assistant junior varsity men’s basketball coach (2002-03) and assistant varsity coach (2002-2005). The Fitchburg, Mass., native brings his playing experience to the sidelines, as he was a three-year starter (1999-2001) who helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament as a senior in 2001.

Ginnity earned Most Valuable Player and New England Basketball Coaches Association (NEBCA) All-Star honors that year. In addition, he received Clark's prestigious Fred Hebert Award, presented to a male senior athlete for outstanding contribution to the University's athletic program. After graduating with a bachelor's in Sociology, Ginnity played and coached in the Ulster Basketball Association in Derry, Northern Ireland. He will head up the team's recruiting efforts and work with the guards. .

Assistant Coach Mike Burlas

Mike Burlas begins his 11th season and second term with the Cougar coaching staff. Burlas was an assistant for Coach Phillips during his first tenure at Clark, and prior to that, assisted him at Anna Maria College during the 1990-1996 seasons, where he helped lead the AmCats to four Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Tournaments and the NCAA Sweet 16 (1996).

He and Coach Phillips’ connection extends far beyond coaching, as the two were 1976 Assumption College graduates. In addition to recruiting, Burlas will also coordinate team travel.

Assistant Coach Tyrone Hicks '86

Tyrone Hicks ‘86, the longest tenured coach on the staff, enters his 20th season. Originally from New Haven, Conn., Hicks started coaching with the Cougars in 1988 and has assisted four Clark head coaches.

A former four-year (1982-86) standout with the Cougar basketball squad, Hicks was the team’s top rebounder (6.1) as a senior in 1986. His highlights included a team-high 16 points in an upset victory over Division I Yale University that same year. Hicks’ primary responsibility will be to work with Cougar post players, and assist in the areas of scouting and recruiting.

Assistant Coach Peter Mugar '96

Peter Mugar ‘96 will begin his first season and second stint as an assistant coach with the men's basketball program. Mugar was a former three-year guard (1992-95) for the Cougars, as well as an assistant coach with the squad from 1995-96.

Mugar, originally from Belmont, Mass., caught the coaching bug after his year-long stint at Clark. He later served as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Babson College (1996-97), before landing an assistant head coach/defensive coordinator position at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (Mass.) (1997-2002). It was with the Falcons that Mugar helped capture the 2001 Division I State Championship and a USA Today national ranking with a 24-1 mark.

Prior to Clark, Mugar was the head boy’s basketball coach at Medford High School (2005-07), where he was promoted to Athletic Director after one year (2006-07). He also coached the boy’s team at King Philip Regional High School from 2004-05 and assisted at Wentworth Institute of Technology (2003-04).

Additionally, Mugar has worked for the Bay State Games and World Scholar-Athlete Games and has coached at several Division I camps, including Princeton University, Indiana University and Northeastern Basketball School.

Outside of coaching, Mugar works in the investment management industry. He is currently the President of Mugar Asset Management, LLC.

Managers

Josh Cantor '11	Precious Ra'Akbar '10