Winning the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at this year’s ESPYs is fitting recognition for Sam Phillips (MSM ’26) who is applying the tools he gained at Gies Business to his role as a champion for LGBTQ+ athletes.
As a Development Associate with Athlete Ally – a nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in collegiate and professional sports – Phillips manages fundraising pipelines, builds donor relationships, and helps orchestrate high-profile events like the upcoming Athlete Ally Action Awards.
“When I joined Athlete Ally after graduating, I wasn’t afraid because I was already familiar with the concepts and terminology that set me up to succeed,” said Phillips. “Now I’m with an organization that gives me the resources to translate my activism from sports to corporate life.”
Today, Phillips relies on the practical, everyday business tools he learned at Gies. He leans heavily on what he learned through his project management and operations coursework to manage timelines, hit benchmarks, and communicate effectively across his team.
Resilience in action
Phillips’ road to Illinois was anything but a straight line, forged through unexpected detours and remarkable resilience. As a COVID-era athlete at the University of Nebraska, a broken ankle led to a redshirt year, giving him an extra year of eligibility and a fifth season with the Huskers. When he was ready for a fresh start for his final year of collegiate gymnastics, the tight-knit gymnastics community pointed him toward the University of Illinois. Knowing Illinois men’s gymnastics head coach Daniel Ribeiro and the Illini culture well through Big Ten meets, Phillips jumped at the opportunity to transfer to Urbana-Champaign.
With an undergraduate background in hospitality management and a business minor, enrolling in the fully online Master of Science in Management (iMSM) program at Gies College of Business was a natural next step. Phillips was drawn to the program’s flexible online format that seamlessly fit his intense training and travel schedule.
At Illinois, the All-American gymnast in all-around and high bar built a reputation for incredible grit. During the NCAA Championships, a bad fall left him with a busted chin that required stitches. Undeterred, he returned the next day with a bandaged face to deliver a viral high bar routine, securing a fourth-place finish and wrapping up his athletic career on his own terms.
“It was a beautiful routine and the ultimate comeback story,” said Phillips. “I really loved that moment and the opportunity to finish my gymnastics journey at Illinois on a high note.”
Stepping into the spotlight
That same courage defines his approach to advocacy. When Phillips arrived at Nebraska, he inherently knew he was queer but hadn't yet come out publicly. As a Black man fielding questions from peers who simply hadn't been exposed to diverse perspectives, he made a conscious choice to lead with grace.
"I had to use that perspective to handle awkward questions and situations and remind myself: If I’m not going to be the one to answer them, then who?," said Phillips.
From his freshman year forward, Phillips was the only out male athlete at Nebraska and the only out male gymnast in the NCAA for years. He threw himself into leadership roles, including president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and co-founder of the Black Student Athlete Advisory Group. But his true catalyst for queer advocacy came in 2022 at an Athlete Ally Leadership Summit. Surrounded by other queer athletes from across the country, he realized he wasn't alone. He brought that energy back to the Nebraska campus, establishing an Athlete Ally chapter and finding a structured way to use his voice.
Building a bigger arena
Today, Phillips is thriving in New York City. Beyond his non-profit work, he is exploring the entertainment industry, recently completing a short film with hopes of using storytelling and creativity arts to project a message of unity.
Yet, Phillips remains acutely aware of the work still needed in men's athletics, noting the stark lack of out professional male athletes. He hopes to see a cultural shift where student-athletes no longer carry the heavy burden of hiding their authentic selves.
For young athletes considering coming out, Phillips offers grounded encouragement:
"It might be scary, but you're going to just become a better person," said Phillips. "If you want to play as your best self, you need to know yourself. Seek out the LGBTQ+ community within the NCAA – it’s so much bigger and stronger than you think.”