( CNN ) -- A Texas white hat has crossed through the pearly gates . `` Bum '' Phillips , the former NFL football coach who led the Houston Oilers to glory and struggled with the New Orleans Saints , died Friday at age 90 . `` Bum is gone to Heaven-loved and will be missed by all -great Dad , Coach , and Christian , '' tweeted his son Wade Phillips , himself defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans . Phillips ' white Stetson cowboy hat was hard to miss , though he did n't wear it in domed stadiums -- his mother had told him never to wear his hat indoors . His nickname stuck out like a sore thumb , especially whenever his team 's stakes were down and fans were n't being nice about it . He was born Oail Andrew Phillips in 1923 , but his older sister stuttered and could n't say `` brother . '' It came out wrong , and the affectionate nickname was born , according to an official biography . It was an term of endearment that had no derogatory meaning . Bumisms . But Phillips ' true trademark were the deadpan sayings he regularly dropped , fully original and spiced with humor and gritty truisms . They got him laughed at sometimes and admired at other times for their grains of truth . They were coined `` Bumisms . '' His most famous one : `` There 's two kinds of coaches , them that 's fired and them that 's gon na be fired . '' He once told sportscaster Bob Costas that he took his wife on away games `` because she 's too ugly to kiss goodbye , '' the NFL said . Phillips started his career in the 1950s as a high school coach , according to the NFL . He joined the Oilers in 1974 as defensive coordinator , when they were defeated and down , then advanced to head coach and in the late 1970s turned them into a winning team . The Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans and Houston 's team is now the Texans . He had a reputation for being an affectionate motivator . The NFL ranked him among the 10 most motivational coaches in professional football history . Saints struggle . In 1981 , Phillips -- wearing cowboy boots -- moved to New Orleans and tightened up the Saints ' defense . Two years later , he led them to their second-ever non-losing season -- an 8-8 record , but he did n't have the same level of success that he had enjoyed in Houston . In 1985 , he resigned to dedicate himself to ranching , his family and Christian charities , and did n't seem to miss football too much . `` I still love football , '' he told the NFL . `` You ca n't do something for 50 years and not love it , but I love it where it 's at , and I love where I 'm at '' -- his ranch in Goliad , Texas . According to local news reports , that 's where he died . `` He meant a great deal to this franchise , the NFL and the city of Houston , and he was instrumental to the Oilers during the 'Luv Ya Blue ' era , '' said Titans owner K.S . `` Bud '' Adams Jr. , in a statement , referring to the late 1970s movement by Oilers ' fans . `` Growing up in Texas and working his way up through the Texas football ranks , he was a natural match for our team . Those were such magical years , and his leadership and personality helped our team rise to the top . He became an iconic figure on our sideline . '' People we 've lost in 2013 .
NEW : `` He became an iconic figure on our sideline , '' says Titans owner . ``I think he was the most popular guy in that locker room He retired from pro football in 1985 and went to his Texas ranch . ` ` Bum , '' a term of endearment given by his sister who stuttered , meant `` brother ''