Phil Bobo graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1960 and was a 1965 graduate of Ohio University.

Phil became an assistant track coach and teacher at the school in 1975. He took over as head coach of the track and field teams, replacing father Robert Bobo, in the fall of 1981. He held the position until his retirement in 1992.

During his tenure, Chillicothe won four Ohio Capital Conference Championships (1984, 1989-91) and two District titles (1983, ’90). Phil Bobo coached 30 individual and relay champions in the OCC and 39 individual and relay champions at the District level. He also guided five individual champions at the Regional level, all of whom went on to reach the podium at the state track championships. Phil Bobo finished with a 67-10 dual meet record while with the Cavaliers, including winning 25 consecutive OCC dual meets. He also had one District and Regional Champion and one State Runner-up in a brief stint as coach of the cross country team. The school’s track was named in honor of Phil Bobo and his father by the Chillicothe School Board in 1994.