New head coach joins forces with Ray Burgess to rally support ahead of July 26 football auction
Longo Returns to Lead Bearkats with Vision and Heart
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Sam Houston State University’s football program is entering a new era as Coach Phil Longo returns to lead the Bearkats—this time as head coach. Longo, a familiar face from his days on the 2014-2016 staff under Coach K.C. Keeler, brings back not only coaching experience, but a personal passion for Huntsville and its people.
“I’ve coached at a lot of places—Wisconsin, Ole Miss, North Carolina—but this is the only place I kept coming back to,” Longo said Tuesday morning on Good Morning Huntsville. “This place draws you back. It feels like home.”
Longo’s connection to the program is deeply rooted. After helping guide the Bearkats to 46 games in just three seasons during his initial stint, his return comes at a pivotal time: the university is continuing its FBS transition, facing new challenges such as name, image, and likeness (NIL) funding and roster-building through the transfer portal.
Bearkat Football Auction Set for July 26
To help meet these challenges, Longo is joining forces with longtime Bearkat supporter Ray Burgess to promote the upcoming Sam Houston Football Auction, scheduled for Friday, July 26 at the Walker County Fairgrounds.
The event is expected to draw more than 300 attendees and includes a steak dinner, drinks, a silent and live auction, and appearances by former players like Jeremiah Briscoe and Ryan Humphries.
Tickets are $125 per person, with table sponsorships also available at various levels—$1,500, $3,500, and $7,500. All proceeds directly support the football program and its student-athletes.
“We’ve got a great committee working hard behind the scenes,” said Burgess, who played baseball at Sam Houston from 1971 to 1975 and has been supporting Bearkat athletics ever since. “Coach Longo is all-in. He’s up at 3 a.m. texting, recruiting, planning for this event—it’s incredible.”
Building Momentum On and Off the Field
While the auction has a clear financial purpose, Coach Longo emphasized that the evening is about more than raising money.
“This event is about building relationships with alumni and fans,” Longo said. “We want to make this an annual tradition—something our football alumni can rally around, whether they played in 1984 or 2024.”
Ray Burgess echoed the sentiment: “We’re bringing people together. We’ve got players coming in from Georgia to reunite with old teammates. That’s what this night is about—connection and community.”
Burgess shared that former player Murphy Yates is organizing a table with several former linemen. Another alumnus, Danny Reeves, received a personal call from Longo—his first from a head coach in 45 years.
Longo’s Vision for the Bearkats
Longo acknowledged the uphill climb ahead. The 2025 season includes road games at Texas and Oregon State, a delayed home field due to Bowers Stadium renovations, and a roster that he’s still actively building.
But his message is simple: “We can either complain or we can compete. And we’re going to compete.”
Under Longo’s leadership, Sam Houston is also placing a renewed emphasis on community engagement. The coaching staff and their families recently gathered at Greg Smith’s home—a symbolic gesture of appreciation and unity. Smith, a Bearkat fan for decades, was jokingly dubbed the program’s first-ever tailgater.
The event also highlights broader challenges in college sports. “The move to FBS didn’t originally account for NIL and the transfer portal,” Longo said. “But now we’re in it. So we have to be proactive, not reactive.”
How to Get Involved
Those interested in attending the football auction can contact Ray Burgess at burgessmediation@gmail.com or by phone at 713-865-3281. For more information or to donate directly, visit: www.bearkatfootballcollective.com.
“If you can’t come, sponsor a player or buy a table and let us give the seats away,” Burgess said. “Every dollar helps.”
A Winning Culture on the Rise
Longo’s return signals more than a coaching change—it marks a cultural reawakening for Sam Houston football.
“We’ve had Ron Randleman, Willie Fritz, K.C. Keeler—some of the best to ever do it,” Longo said. “Now I get to carry that torch. We’re going to keep building and bring more people into this journey.”
With supporters like Ray Burgess beside him and an energized community behind him, Coach Longo is poised to guide the Bearkats through their next chapter—one rooted in tradition, but looking boldly toward the future.