Phil Lite Leaves Ottumwa to Coach Davis County Football

Phil Lite has officially stepped down as the head football coach at Ottumwa High School after four seasons, including two as head varsity coach, to accept the head coaching position at Davis County. The move allows the Bloomfield resident a simpler commute and presents a new challenge to rebuild the Mustangs program, which recently endured a 14-game losing streak and a winless 0-9 season. During his tenure at Ottumwa, Lite achieved significant success, notably guiding the Bulldogs to a 7-2 record in his final season as head coach, the team's best performance in 15 years. Under his leadership, the team set program rushing records, and three players signed letters of intent with four-year colleges, including kicker Joel Hallgren, who will attend Dakota Wesleyan University. Lite, who previously served as offensive coordinator at Ottumwa and led Staley High School in Kansas City to a state championship, emphasized the importance of hard work and academic dedication. He aims to apply his experience in turning around struggling programs to help Davis County overcome its recent difficulties and achieve competitive success in the upcoming 2026 campaign.