Former University of Houston offensive coordinator Jason Phillips will join the SMU staff replacing Adrian Klemm as an assistant coach.

Phillips served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach during Houston’s 13-1 season in 2011 ending with a win over Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl.

“His receivers and the offenses that he has been a part of his coaching career have been some of the best in the country and I’m excited to have him join our staff,” said Head Coach June Jones in a press release.

This will not be the first time Phillips and Jones have worked together on the football field.

In 1989 the Detroit Lions drafted Phillips when Jones was serving as an assistant coach.

His tenure in the NFL lasted six seasons, including time with Jones and the Atlanta Falcons.

“He knows our offense from having played in it and I look forward to his input into what we do, along with what he brings to us from the offenses that has been associated with in his coaching career,” Jones said.

Last year Houston led the nation averaging 599 yards per game, the second highest in Division I football history, with Phillips as the offensive coordinator.

Along with the Cougar coaching staff, Phillips also helped former quarterback Case Keenum to become the NCAA career leader in passing yards, completions and touchdowns.

In addition to guiding a powerful offense at Houston during the 2011 season as well as being familiar with Jones’ run and shoot offense, Phillips has experience recruiting in Texas.

He served as recruiting coordinator at Houston and Baylor in 2007.

“He has recruited Texas for close to 10 years, so he will have an impact there as well,” Jones added in the statement.

The hire coincides with SMU athletics entering a new chapter as they join the Big East Conference in all sports.