For the past six years, the title of Coronado Middle School (CMS) Athletic Director has been held by Kristen Guymon, who has been praised by many for greatly increasing the number of athletes at CMS and growing the athletic department as a whole.

However, after many extremely successful years as CMS’s AD, Guymon has stepped down from the role. This past week, ISF announced that Brian Phillips will step into the role for 2026 and beyond.

“The most exciting thing is leading a larger student population with more access to facilities, but I’m excited to be working with what I’ve seen to be an amazing community. The competitive spirit is extremely high, there is a positive energy around athletics, and I’ve received a warm welcome from everyone I’ve encountered,” said Phillips.

Before his hire, Phillips already had a connection to CMS sports, as he helped co-coach summer volleyball camps alongside several CMS coaches– helping to give him a strong head start on forming relationships within the CMS sports family.

Sports have been a key part of Phillips’ life for as long as he can remember. A successful high school basketball player, he also played college ball at Cuyamaca College. Before he arrived at CMS, Phillips spent two years as the Associate Athletic Director at the Rock Academy from 2024 to 2026.

Along with his AD duties, Phillips also served as a coach for multiple sports. Along with his role as CMS AD, he will also continue coaching, serving as the middle school volleyball coach. He feels both experiences will be vital in helping him in his new role.

“My time coaching and leading the elementary and middle school athletics programs at the Rock was something I’ll cherish forever,” said Phillips. “When you lead from a position of servitude and gratitude, success is guaranteed. I learned that you cannot please everyone, but that also cannot be your mission. As Athletic Director, I want to build upon the solid foundation that has been laid for CMS sports and the Islander Foundation.”

Phillips, like many coaches and athletic directors across the nation, believes that sports and athletics are a powerful vehicle in teaching students lessons outside the classroom walls. For him, success won’t be defined by the number of titles won by CMS programs, but rather by how much they help each athlete develop on and off the field.

“Success in athletics is a process. The best way to succeed is by dedicating yourself to improving daily. I’m not here to bring championships to CMS — I want to build a program that teaches our young athletes how to be champions in life,” said Phillips. “By the end of the year, I want to see student-athletes and families proudly walking around the San Diego area with CMS sports gear because they are proud to be a part of something great.”

As for his role on a day-to-day basis, Phillips is still getting a feel for what that might look like. However, he’s excited to get out into the community, attend games, and be available to support CMS athletes in whatever he can.

“Day-to-day is still uncertain, but I will definitely try to be at as many games and practices as possible. I’m not from the Coronado community, so I believe that is a great opportunity to meet everyone.”

VOL. 116, NO. 32 - Aug. 12, 2026