Washington State University Athletics

Jeff Phelps begins his third season on the Cougars’ coaching staff working with the defensive line. 

Last season, Phelps’ defensive front anchored the Cougar “Speed D” that led the Pac-12 Conference with 38 sacks, the ninth-most in WSU single-season history, and finished second in the league with 88 tackles-for-loss. The defensive line featured just one returning starter from 2018 but excelled in 2019, combining for 34 tackles for loss and 14 sacks led by All-Pac-12 second-team selection Logan Tago who set career highs of 10.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. WSU finished the season ranked third in the Pac-12 in rush defense and No. 42 nationally in total defense.

In 2017, Phelps directed a defensive line that produced 45.5 TFL’s and 20 sacks, helping the Cougar defense to rank in the top 20 in eight different categories. He also mentored Hercules Mata’afa to one of the finest seasons in school history as the redshirt-junior garnered Consensus All-America honors and was named the 2017 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. Mata’afa registered 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles-for-loss and was named the Associated Press Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Phelps arrived in Pullman having spent the past six seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Minnesota. This past season Minnesota posted a 9-4 record, including a win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. The Gopher defense ranked No. 12 in the nation in tackles for loss,  No. 14 in rushing yards allowed and No. 22 in sacks.

During his six seasons in Minneapolis, Phelps was a part of five bowl teams and coached four players who earned All-Big Ten honors, including 2013 Third Team All-American Ra’Shede Hagemen, who was a 2014 second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons.

Phelps joined the Minnesota staff after spending five years coaching at Northern Illinois. From 2008-2010, he coached the Huskies’ defensive line. In 2006-07, Phelps was responsible for coaching the Huskie defensive tackles.

Phelps coached defensive end Larry English at NIU. English went on to be named the Mid-American Conference’s Most Valuable Player twice and was the 2008 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, going to the San Diego Chargers.

Phelps began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State in 1999. He then spent three seasons at DePauw, where he coached the running backs for two seasons before going to the defensive side of the ball to coach the linebackers. He then spent three seasons at Hillsdale (Mich.) College, where he coached the defensive line from 2003-05 before joining the staff at NIU.

Phelps was a Second-Team All-MAC player at outside linebacker for Ball State following his senior season in 1997. He was also an Honorable Mention All-MAC selection as a junior. The Chicago native holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State.
Phelps is a graduate of Crete-Monee High School, where he was a three-sport standout, earning seven letters - football (2), wrestling (2), track and field (3).

He and his wife Tyla have a son, Carsen, and a daughter, Harlyn.