Phillip Montgomery came with Art Briles from the University of Houston and will serve as the Bears' co-offensive coordinator, the same role he held for Briles' Cougars in 2006. Montgomery, whose association with Art Briles dates to Stephenville High School, will continue to share the offensive coordinator's duties with Randy Clements and will coach the Bears' quarterbacks and running backs.

The Houston offense has ranked as one of the nation's most prolific, in large part due to Clements' and Montgomery's contributions. Through the end of the 2007 regular-season, Houston ranked fourth nationally in total offense (513.17 ypg), 10th in rushing offense (239.92 ypg), 17th in scoring offense (36.33 ppg) and 27th in passing offense (273.25 ypg).

In 2007, Houston's Anthony Alridge rushed for a team-high 1,568 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 41 passes for 424 yards and five scores en route to second-team All-Conference USA honors for the second consecutive year. He ended the regular-season ranked seventh nationally in rushing and 12th in all-purpose yards per game at 180.1. Alridge and Jackie Battle both rushed for more than 800 yards in 2006 to receive second- and third-team all-conference honors respectively.

"Phillip (Montgomery) brings an outstanding wealth of understanding and knowledge of our offense, as does Randy (Clements)," Briles said. "He has a unique task of coordinating the front and back side of the offensive schemes. He's a tireless recruiter with excellent character."

Montgomery also played a key role in the development of Kolb, who was named 2003 Conference USA Freshman of the Year. His first season at Houston also saw running back Anthony Evans rush for 1,149 yards en route to second-team All-Conference USA honors and Jackie Battle earn team MVP honors after rushing for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the 2003 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

Two years later, Kolb was a third-team all-league performer and running back Ryan Gilbert was a first-team Conference USA honoree after rushing for more than 1,000 yards.

Prior to joining the Cougars' coaching staff, Montgomery served one year as the offensive coordinator at Denton (Texas) High School and helped the team to a 10-2 record and the 2002 bi-district crown.

Montgomery spent six seasons as the quarterbacks and backfield coach at Stephenville High School, where he helped coach Art Briles' program to back-to-back state 4A Division II state championships in 1998 and 1999.

Among his pupils at Stephenville were all-state quarterback Kelan Lucker and all-state running back Zac Hunter, who helped power the team's offense to a national record 8,664 total yards in 1998. He also coached Kendall Briles, the 1999 4A Division II Texas Offensive Player of the Year as well as Tie Lassater and Kolb to 4A Division II Texas Offensive MVPs in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

A four-year letterman at Tarleton State, Montgomery began his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater working with the running backs and serving as the summer weight room coordinator for two seasons.

The Eastland, Texas, native received his bachelor's degree in exercise and sports studies from Tarleton in 1995. He and his wife, Ashli, have two children, Cannon and Maci.