Ryan Phillips joins the Upper Iowa University wrestling staff after finishing his four year collegiate career. Phillips began his collegiate career at Wartburg College and transferred to Upper Iowa prior to his senior season.

Phillips was the champion of the St. Cloud State Open and was named the Northern Sun Conference Wrestler of the Week for his efforts over the week ending on December 10, 2007.

Phillips continued to impress as the season continued. His senior season culminated in a 29-5 record and championship titles in the NCAA Division II North Regional and the NCAA Division II National Championships at 197 pounds. The national championship was the first for Upper Iowa at the Division II level. Phillips finished his National Championship run with a 4-0 record and won his matches by a combined score of 43 to 6. Phillips performance was even more impressive as he did not surrender an offensive point throughout the championship.

Phillips, who came into the national championships ranked #3 in the country, finished his collegiate career with a 16 match win streak that included a NCAA Regional Championship and an NCAA National Championship. Phillips defeated four of the top eight ranked wrestlers in the country over the course of the NCAA Regional and National Championships.

Phillips collected an All-American award, the Northern Sun Conference Wrestler of the Year award, and Northern Sun All-Conference honors.

Off the mat, Phillips was a member of the Peacock wrestling team that was ranked #8 in the NCAA Division II All-Academic Team Rankings presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). He was an Academic All-American in 2005-06 while wrestling at Wartburg. As a member of the Upper Iowa wrestling team Phillips won a Division II National Championship at 197 lbs. in 2006-07.

Phillips graduated from Burlington High School in Burlington, Iowa where he was the high school's first Iowa State Champion (215 pounds).