Kickapoo High School girls basketball coach Stephanie Phillips dies

Stephanie Phillips, the Kickapoo High School head girls basketball coach, died Saturday after struggling with colon cancer for three years. She was 36.

She is survived by her husband Scot Phillips and her sons Drew and Levi, who are 6 and 3 respectively, according to a News-Leader article.

A fundraising foundation called The Stephanie Phillips Foundation was set up three years ago to help the family raise money to support treatment. Supporters of the foundation include American Family Insurance, J Giddens Advertising, LLC, Meal Makers, Ozark News Magazine Distributors Inc., and Yates Promotions, according to the foundation's Web site.

Updates from the foundation are submitted through its blog.

Phillips had a master's degree in education and beyond coaching also taught aerobics classes at Kickapoo for eight years, according to the Kickapoo High School Web site.

In a news release, Springfield Public Schools Athletic Director Mark Fisher issued a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scot, Drew, Levi and the entire Phillips family," he said in the release. "Stephanie touched so many lives in such a positive way and was an inspiration to all."

Funeral services will be held at Second Baptist Church on East Battlefield on July 15 at 10 a.m., according to a foundation blog post.[[In-content Ad]]