Ottis Phillips was a four-year letterman for the Golden Eagle football team under coach Don Wade from 1969 to 1972, helping Tech capture the OVC championship and a bid to the Grantland Rice Bowl in his senior season.

Playing as a tailback, halfback, and fullback, he tallied 103 carries and rushed for 380 total yards and three touchdowns. In those 103 tries, he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage just one time for a one-yard loss. Including his pass receptions and kickoff returns, Phillips finished with 452 all-purpose yards.

During his final two seasons, Tech posted an 18-4 overall record and went 12-2 in OVC play.

As a member of the football team, his determination and desire made him a formidable player and those same characteristics have made him a successful businessman and community leader. Phillips' involvement in Tech athletics, as well as the community, has stood out since his days as a Golden Eagle student-athlete.

His work ethic and leadership were always evident on the gridiron and those qualities have shined throughout his professional career. After graduation, he worked at Fleetguard where he won a patent award for a diesel filter that he helped to develop.

After working for Adolf Coors Co. in Golden, Colorado, and Willowtree Distributing in Dallas, Texas, Phillips returned to his hometown in 1990 to take a position as general manager at SEC Enterprises. His entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic created an opportunity for him to purchase the business just five years later in 1995. After additional acquisitions and mergers, SEC/Mid-South was a $40 million annual sales revenue company.  

After selling the company to Knoxville-based Cherokee Distributing, Phillips became CEO of Progressive Financial Group which sold to SmartFinancial in 2019 and joined the Board of Directors of SmartFinancial. Phillips chaired the TTU Foundation Board of Directors and was a member of the TTU Athletics Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He also served as the Chairman of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, as President of the Cavalier Foundation, and was on the initial steering committee in 2008 that brought the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl to TTU and the Cookeville community.

Phillips' involvement in Tech athletics, as well as the community, stood out since his days as a Golden Eagle student-athlete. In 1990, he helped establish and continues to sponsor the annual Golden Eagle Football Alumni Reunion Weekend and Golf Classic, the largest fundraiser for Tech football each year. His company was one of the original sponsors of the Golden Eagle Scramble, the Athletic Department's largest annual fundraiser.

Phillips was also the co-chair of the committee tasked with raising $15 million to create and ensure sustained success for the next generation of Tennessee Tech football players, with the focus on the planned football operations center. Phillips represented one of the largest donors annually as well as lifetime to Tennessee Tech Athletics.

Ottis earned a number of honors for his dedication, loyalty, and commitment, including the 2013 Outstanding Athletics Alumni Award and the 2018 Tennessee Tech University Outstanding Philanthropy Award.