Phillip Hurst
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- Email:
- hurstiit@nwfsc.edu
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- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Bio
Phillip Hurst enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Northwest Florida State baseball program after making an immediate impact during his first year in Niceville.
Serving as the Raiders' pitching coach in 2025-26, Hurst guided Bradley Garrett and Aiden Torrez to All-Panhandle Conference honors, while Garrett also received All-FCSAA recognition.
Hurst helped lead Northwest Florida to another successful season that included a strong postseason run. The Raiders returned to the postseason for a fourth consecutive season, captured their opening-round series at the FCSAA Ocala Regional before advancing to the FCSAA Championship Final Four in Tampa.
Hurst came to Northwest Florida after spending three years at the University of New Orleans. He helped lead them to 97 wins and two Conference Championship games in his three seasons.
In 2025, Hurst brought in a class that again had the Privateers at the top of the Southland, which helped lead them to winning the Hammond Bracket Championship and to the Championship Series. The Pirvateers were 2nd in home runs (69) and 2nd in Slugging (.473). Hurst coached Bryce Calloway, who was a consensus Division 1 All-American.
In 2024, Hurst oversaw a class that put forth totals which were at or near the top of the Southland. The Privateers were 2nd in batting average (.292), 3rd in runs scored (415), 3rd in home runs (71), 2nd in walks (290), and 2nd in on-base percentage (.399).
During his first season, the Privateers were the top offense in many statistical categories, including home runs, where they hit 90, tied for the second-most in a single season in program history. Five Privateer starters hit over .300, led by Mitchell Sanford, who finished with a .324 batting average.
As the recruiting coordinator, Hurst was a big part of bringing in a JUCO class for 2024 that was rated as the 13th best in the nation.
In his previous stop, Hurst was working in the same role at Faulkner University. He helped the Eagles to a 134-50 record and two NAIA World Series appearances in 2021 and 2022. In both seasons, Faulkner finished in the top five in the nation in the final NAIA poll.
He was named the ALBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. Hurst's pitching staff recorded 974 strikeouts in 879 innings from 2021-22. He also coached Antonio Frias, who was named NAIA Pitcher of the Year after recording a 13-0 record with a 2.22 ERA, a .159 opponent batting average, and 138 strikeouts. Frias also threw a no-hitter that season against William Carey.
Before that, Hurst was in the same position at Wallace CC. The team recorded a 169-60 record and in 2017, helped guide Wallace to their first JUCO World Series in school history. He coached three JUCO All-Americans, and 58 players were sent to four-year schools from 2016-19. 39 of those players went to Division I schools.
Hurst got his coaching start at Suwanee High School in 2011-12, where he was an assistant. He helped Suwanee to a 42-10 record and a district title. He also coached travel ball for FTB and 5-Star National.
During his first season, the Privateers were the top offense in many statistical categories, including home runs, where they hit 90, tied for the second-most in a single season in program history. Five Privateer starters hit over .300, led by Mitchell Sanford, who finished with a .324 batting average.
As the recruiting coordinator, Hurst was a big part of bringing in a JUCO class for 2024 that was rated as the 13th best in the nation.
In his previous stop, Hurst was working in the same role at Faulkner University. He helped the Eagles to a 134-50 record and two NAIA World Series appearances in 2021 and 2022. In both seasons, Faulkner finished in the top five in the nation in the final NAIA poll.
He was named the ALBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. Hurst's pitching staff recorded 974 strikeouts in 879 innings from 2021-22. He also coached Antonio Frias, who was named NAIA Pitcher of the Year after recording a 13-0 record with a 2.22 ERA, a .159 opponent batting average, and 138 strikeouts. Frias also threw a no-hitter that season against William Carey.
Before that, Hurst was in the same position at Wallace CC. The team recorded a 169-60 record and in 2017, helped guide Wallace to their first JUCO World Series in school history. He coached three JUCO All-Americans, and 58 players were sent to four-year schools from 2016-19. 39 of those players went to Division I schools.
Hurst got his coaching start at Suwanee High School in 2011-12, where he was an assistant. He helped Suwanee to a 42-10 record and a district title. He also coached travel ball for FTB and 5-Star National.