Herman ran at
Butler University from 1925-1927 where he was the
NCAA national champion in the 440-yards run. He was also the
AAU champion in the 440 in 1927.
In the 1928 Summer Olympics in
Amsterdam, he won his first round and quarter final heat of the 400m before finishing second in this semi-final and 6th in the final.
Phillips went on to coach track at Butler University from 1927-37 and founded the Butler Realys. He then coached at
Purdue University from 1937-45.[2][3]