App State alum Phillip Hicks returned to the Mountaineers' staff in February 2022 in a defensive quality control position.

He spent the previous three seasons at Louisville in the same role as part of former App State head coach Scott Satterfield's staff there.
 
Hicks served as a defensive graduate assistant coach at App State in 2018, assisting with the outside linebackers and coaching the scout team quarterback in addition to practice planning and breaking down film.
 
Prior to returning to Boone the first time, Hicks spent three seasons in the high school ranks, working at Wilkes Central (N.C.) High in 2015 and Carolina Forest (S.C.) High in 2016 and 2017. At both stops, Hicks worked with the defensive backs.
 
Hicks’ coaching career began as an undergraduate student under Satterfield at App State in 2013. He worked for the Mountaineers for the 2013 and 2014 seasons before graduating with his bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education in May 2015.