Bowie State leadership seems to be sending a pretty clear message about the school's football program.
After hiring Dawson Odums last month to run the NCAA Division II Bulldogs organization, sources tell FootballScoop the school has another significant addition.
Jason Phillips, a two-time Football Championship Subdivision offensive coordinator, is reuniting with Odums to serve as Bowie State's offensive coordinator, FootballScoop has learned.
Phillips previously ran the offense for Odums at FCS program Norfolk State.
But the two first crossed paths in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. There, Odums had an extended run atop the Southern University program; he won a SWAC Championship, four additional SWAC divisional titles and also was honored as SWAC Coach of the Year.
Across the field, Phillips helped then-Alcorn head coach Fred McNair turn the Braves into a consistent challenger for the conference crown.
Working for McNair, the decorated former Alcorn star quarterback who won a Grey Cup Championship in the Canadian Football League, Phillips rose from wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator to help coordinate the Braves' offense.
The Phillips-McNair combo, with the rest of the Alcorn staff, helped the Braves win back-to-back SWAC Championships, twice go to the Celebration Bowl and also garnered multiple additional SWAC divisional crowns.
A former star quarterback for Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer George Quarles at Maryville High School, Phillips played collegiately at NCAA Division II program Tusculum before beginning his coaching journey.
Phillips has been on staff at Football Bowls Subdivision Troy University, briefly coached prep football in his native East Tennessee and also rose to the role of offensive coordinator in the junior college ranks.
Phillips was hired onto staff at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and eventually climbed to the role of offensive coordinator at MGCCC. When that program made a change at the top, Phillips was tabbed interim coach -- the same role he held for a month at Norfolk State.
Bowie State competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The program hired Odums when it made a coaching change after a 3-7 2025 campaign.
The Bulldogs open their 2026 season Sept. at Virginia State University.
Due to schedule front-loaded with road games, Odums and Phillips won't make their home coaching debuts for the Bulldogs until Oct. 3, when the school hosts Shaw University in an CIAA contest.