Phil Veazey enters OTCA Hall of Fame
Phil (Phillip) Veazey was inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The 4th Annual Ceremony took place at the Quail Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was one of seven inductees in the HOF Class of 2019.
Phil is one of the few active coaches to earn a spot in the hall. He was interviewed by the Clinton Daily News and told writer Collin Wieder, “It’s a tremendous honor to me. I look at it as probably one of the greatest accomplishments of my coaching career. And to be in as active coach, it doesn’t happen very often. So, I’m extremely honored to be a part of it and kind of humbled in a lot of ways, because there’s a lot of people - my mentors - that aren’t in there yet.”
Phil graduated from Friona High School in Friona, Texas in 1979. He then attended West Texas State University where he received a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1984. He also became Oklahoma Certified from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1986.
Phil got his start in coaching in Plainview, Texas where he was head coach for the junior high boys basketball and boys track teams. He was assistant coach for boys junior high football. He was in Plainview from 1984-1985 before moving to Clinton, Oklahoma. There he was assistant coach for junior high boys basketball, football, and boys & girls tennis. Later, he was head coach for girls junior high basketball and varsity head coach for boys & girls tennis. He started coaching in Clinton in 1986 and is still coaching tennis 33 years later. Under his direction, the Clinton varsity boys tennis team was named runner-up in 1990. Also, Clinton has won four regional championships (three girls and one boys’ title). During his career, Coach Veazey has trained 9 all-state athletes and has had two individual state champions.
Phil has been a member of the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association (OTCA) for 30 years. He was president-elect in 1994-1995 and president in 1995-1996. He has served on the OTCA Advisory Board for 12 years. He was named OTCA Coach of the Year in 2015. Phil was also named Clinton High School Teacher of the Year in 2011.
Phil lives in Clinton, Oklahoma with his wife Lori. They have two children, Paige (Veazey) McLaughlin & husband Jentry, and Payne Veazey & wife, Getse. Phil is the son of Joyce Veazey and the late C.H. Veazey. He has two sisters, Pam & Myra, and one brother, the late Charlie Veazey.
