ADA – When Spring practice starts for the East Central University football team April 1, the Tigers defense will have a new leader. Head coach Tim McCarty has announced the addition of Randy Pippin as the new defensive coordinator.

“Being able to have Randy join our staff is a win for our program in many areas,” said McCarty. “We have worked together in the past so I know what he can achieve. He brings knowledge, experience, character, and all of the qualities that cause your production as an organization to climb.”

Pippin has spent the last 24 years coaching football at different levels, including 14 years as a head coach. He spent the last season as the defensive coordinator at East Texas Baptist where his defense finished the season amongst NCAA leads in takeaways and No.2 in the American Southwest Conference against the run. His team allowed just 142 yards per game.

“Being at ECU with all of the incredible tradition and coaching with one of the most respected head coaches in all of college football at a university where my entire family can contribute and coaching players that are positioned and ready for greatness is a blessing beyond description,” Pippin said.

Prior to joining the staff at ETBU, Pippin was the head coach at The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Classical Academy finished 12^th in the state despite being the smallest school in its class. 

While in Colorado, Pippin also served as the National Director of the Glazier/Mega Football Coaching Clinics before joining ETBU. He joined Glazier after being the head coach at Northwest Mississippi, where he guided the Ranges to the conference championship in 2006.

Pippin was also the head coach at the University of West Alabama from 2001-2003. During his time with the Tigers he earned Small College Coach of the Year in Alabama in 2002 after West Alabama recorded the most wins in a season in over 10 years.

Prior to taking the job at West Alabama, Pippin was the head football coach and athletic director at Middle Georgia College (1998-2000). While at MGC the team had two 10-win seasons and made two appearances in the bowl championships. He helped Kendrell Bell move on to the NFL, where he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Pippin also spent two seasons (1996-97) as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech, where he coached the school’s all-time leader in total offense.

Before joining the Golden Eagles he had a very successful time as the head coach at Trinity Valley (1993-95), where he guided the Cardinals to a 24-8-2 record, which included the 1994 Junior College National Championship. During his time at Trinity Valley, he produced 19 all-conference players and six All-Americans. That list includes kicker Matt Bryant and cornerback Al Harris, both who had stellar NFL careers.

The 1994 season saw not just a national championship, but as 12-0 mark and the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA through the entire season. For his efforts, Pippin was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year and was recently inducted into the TVCC Hall of Fame.

Before being named the head coach at Trinity Valley, Pippin served as the team’s defensive coordinator (1990-92) for three seasons.

Pippin had a standout career on the field as well at Cisco Junior College and Tennessee Tech before starting his coaching career as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

The Mesquite, Texas, native, earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education from TTU.

A published author and speaker, Pippin now directs Nike Coach of the Year clinics and speaks nationally on “Implementing Character Qualities for Success,” as well as football strategies and fundamentals. He is married to the former Sally Horton and the couple has four daughters (Natalie, Holly, Libby, and Gracie).