Whether as a player or a coach, Willard (Phil) Wetterland seemed destined to be a leader. Wetterland's legacy spans nine years, beginning with his four-year career as a starting forward on Durfee Tech's basketball team. With his talent and enthusiasm, he scored 236 points his freshman year and went on to receive his first taste of leadership as co-captain to help command the team both his junior and senior year. His leadership during his senior year lifted the team to a 14-11 season as he scored 552 points. As a coach at both Durfee Tech from 1959 through 1965 and then at SMU from 1966-1968, Wetterland had some outstanding basketball teams. In his coaching debut in 1959-60, his team won 15 games and lost only three, making them the SNECC champion with a 7-1 record. In his two seasons as the SMU basketball coach, his Corsairs posted a record of 31-20.