Phil Spence

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Phil Spence is a retired American basketball player and coach from Raleigh, North Carolina. He played at Broughton High School, then went to Vincennes University before transferring to North Carolina State University. At NC State, he was part of the 1974 national championship team and belonged to the group known as "The Jive Five" with Dwight Johnson, Moe Rivers, and David Thompson. He contributed as a starter in his junior and senior seasons, helping NC State go 30-1 in 1974.

Spence was drafted in 1976 by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 6th round, but he did not make the final roster and did not play in the NBA.

After his playing days, Spence turned to coaching. He served as an assistant at Broughton High School, then coached Cary High School (1979–1989) and East Wake High School (1989–1999). He became head coach at North Carolina Central University from 2000 to 2004 and was named CIAA Coach of the Year in 2003. The team finished with a 4-year record of 49–64.

In 2001, Spence suffered a mild stroke. He used the experience to promote healthy living and stroke prevention, including health screenings during the 2002 CIAA tournament. He later worked with at-risk youth at Longview School in Raleigh.

Spence is married to Paula, and they have two daughters, Porche and Pauletta. He stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and played as a forward. On Sundays, he and his NC State teammates keep in touch via text, sharing devotional and gospel messages.